Understanding Phonics

What is Phonics?

Phonics is the name given to the ‘sounds-based’ approach used to teach children the sounds of letters and how they blend into words. Phonics was the dominant teaching system in the UK until the 1960s when more fashionable methods were introduced, often teaching children to learn whole words "by rote" without mastering the alphabet. Phonics was reintroduced as a method of teaching reading in 1998 and from 2006, became compulsory in all UK primary schools.

Phonics helps children understand the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and the letters or groups of letters (graphemes) that represent those sounds in written language. Essentially, it’s a tool that helps children decode (sound out) words and also build the foundation for spelling.

How is Phonics Taught in UK Primary Schools?

Teachers use structured, systematic approaches to teach phonics through the use of DfE approved, specific phonics schemes. There are over 40 approved phonics schemes and schools are free to use whichever scheme they prefer. Examples include Jolly Phonics, Read Write Inc (RWI), Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS) and Little Wandle.

Phonics are introduced in Early Years using small, manageable steps and continue into Reception where children are introduced to single-letter sounds before moving on to blends, digraphs, and more complex phonetic patterns. Children are encouraged to practise segmenting (breaking words into individual sounds) and blending (putting sounds together) to equip them to read words of increasing difficulty.

Phonics is taught daily to reinforce skills. Sessions may include activities such as using flashcards, playing games and reading books that highlight the phonics patterns that children are learning.

Teachers monitor children’s progress regularly and children are formally assessed at the end of Year 1 to determine their level of phonetic ability. Extra support is given to children who need help.

Why Should We Teach Children to Read Using Phonics?

Teaching children to read using phonics is one of the most effective ways to help them become confident and skilled readers and writers. It is an interactive, hands-on way of teaching literacy and appeals to young children as it’s often taught through games, songs, and activities that make the learning process fun and engaging. Phonics provides children with the basic skills they need to read words by "sounding them out."

When children understand how to break words down phonetically, they become more confident readers. They no longer have to rely on memorising words, instead, they can use their phonics knowledge to approach any word, building their independence in reading and laying the groundwork for future academic achievement.

Phonics: Key Definitions

Term	Definition
Phoneme	The smallest unit of sound in a word. E.g., cat = /k/ /a/ /t/.
Grapheme	The written letter(s) representing a phoneme. E.g., sh in ship.
Digraph	Two letters making one sound. E.g., ch in chat, th in thin.
Split Digraph	A digraph split by a consonant (magic e). E.g., cake = /k/ /ā/ /k/.
Trigraph	Three letters making one sound. E.g., igh in night.
Phonetic Ability	The ability to hear and manipulate sounds in spoken words (not written).
Consonant Blend	Two or more consonants spoken together, each sound still heard. E.g., bl in black, str in street.