Home Support (Phonics)

In line with the recent government recommendations, we have chosen Twinkl Phonics (one of the Department of Education’s validated, systematic synthetic phonics programmes), to support your child in learning to read and write.

Here is a helpful guide for parents, which overviews: 

  • key terminology used within the teaching of phonics,
  • an explanation of what synthetic phonics is
  • what is taught and when

 Sound mats and Tricky/Common Exception words for each level are available below 

                    Level 2 Tricky words                                 Level 2 Sound Mat
                    Level 3 Tricky words                                 Level 3 Sound Mat
                    Level 4 Tricky words                   
                    Level 5 Common Exception Words           Level 5 Sound Mat
                    Level 6 Common Exception Words           Level 6 Sound Mat

We strongly believe that teaching children to read is one of the most important things we do.  Working together with you we can ensure that all children develop the essential skills and understanding they need to go on to be successful and accomplished readers. After all, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.”— Dr. Seuss, “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!” Therefore, your continued support at home is invaluable.

Each week your child’s teacher will add to Tapestry/Seesaw:

  • An electronic ‘mini book,’ which helps your child practise the new phonemes and/or grapheme of the week in a real life context.
  • A parent information sheet (or sheets depending on the level they are working on) which: shares the phonemes and graphemes your child has been learning that week and the tricky/common exception words (words that do not follow phonics rules) your child has been learning to read or spell that week.

For more information on the benefits of systematic teaching of phonics along with the actions and Mnemonics used at each level, to introduce new sounds please see this phonics PowerPoint.