Year 1 is an exciting year for phonics! Your child will continue to learn new sounds, practise reading and writing words, and begin to explore different spellings and pronunciations.

We use the ELS phonics programme at our school, which helps children to develop strong reading and spelling skills in a structured and enjoyable way.

How this links to spelling:

• Your child’s spellings are directly linked to their phonics learning, so they practise the sounds and words they are currently learning in class.

• More challenging words are gradually introduced to extend learning and build confidence.

Supporting your child at home:

• Read regularly with your child and encourage them to sound out words using their phonics knowledge.

• Use the purple spelling book to practise spellings.

• EdShed usernames and passwords are inside the purple spelling book for extra online phonics practice.

Phonics Screening Check:

• At the end of Year 1, children take the Phonics Screening Check in June. This checks how well they can read real and “alien” words using the sounds they have learnt.

• Regular reading and phonics practice at home really help children feel confident and ready.

For more information about our school’s phonics programme, ELS, please follow the link below.