Phonics

Synthetic phonics is a specific programme to teach your child to read. The skilled staff in school will support your child to learn the phonemes (sounds) and graphemes (letters) for each combination in the English linguistic system. Some words don't fit into this system and are called 'tricky' words. These are learnt as part of phonics too. At Abbeywood we use Jolly Phonics.  

What is Jolly Phonics?

Jolly Phonics is a fun and child centred approach to teaching literacy through synthetic phonics. With actions for each of the 42 letter sounds, the multi-sensory method is very motivating for children. The letter sounds are split into seven groups, as shown in the Letter Sound Order chart below.

How does Jolly Phonics work?

Using a synthetic phonics approach, Jolly Phonics teaches children the five key skills for reading and writing. Complimented by Jolly Readers and Jolly Grammar, it provides a thorough foundation for teaching literacy over three years in school (Reception to year 2).

Letter Sound Order

The sounds are taught in a specific order (not alphabetically). This enables children to begin building words as early as possible.

There are 5 skills taught in Jolly Phonics

1.Learning the Phonemes (how a letter sounds)

Children are taught the 42 main letter sounds. These include alphabet sounds as well as digraphs such as sh, th, ai and ue. 

2.Learning graphemes (how the letters are written down)

Using different multi-sensory methods, children learn how to form and write the letters. 

3.Blending

Children are taught how to blend the sounds together to read and write new words.

4.Segmenting

Listening for the sounds in words gives children the best start for improving spelling.

5.Learning tricky words

Tricky words have irregular spellings and children learn these separately.