What are phonics?

Phonics is a method of showing children to learn to read and spell by teaching them the sounds the letters make, which are on the Main Page of our website.

What are the letter sounds?

Each single letter has a sound, like the sound 'a' at the beginning of 'apple'. Pairs of letters can make sounds, like 'ch' as in 'church', 'sh' as in 'dish', 'ck' as in 'lick', and so on. larger groups of letters can also make a sound together, like '-tion' as in 'station'.

What are synthetic phonics?

Synthetic phonics is a method of teaching phonics where the teacher teaches the children (aged 5 onwards) the letter sounds and shws them how to make words with them.

Are synthetic phonics a better teaching method then the way that I learned?

Probably. Research has shown that children make fast progress with this method compared to children learning by other methods. However, there are always some very able children who learn to read and spell in their own way.

Are synthetic phonics recommended for children with dyslexia?

Yes. Children with dyslexia who use synthetic phonics improve more than by any other method.

How do I find out more about synthetic phonics?

You may find these pages helpful: