The resources on this page will help you support your child with saying their sounds and writing their letters. Below are some useful videos so you can see how they are taught at school and feel confident about supporting their reading at home. You can also find below our full Reception and Year 1 teaching programme overview to see what your child will learn and when.

Reading 

Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home.

There are two types of reading book that your child may bring home:

• A reading practice book - This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. They should be able to read this fluently and independently.
• A Care and Share book - Your child will not be able to read this on their own. This book is for you both to read and enjoy together.

Reading practice book

This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.

Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.

Sharing book

In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together.

Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!

Help Videos 

The videos on this page will help you support your child with saying their sounds so that you feel confident about supporting your child's reading at home. 

Phase 2

Phase 2 is when children begin to learn the sounds that letters make (phonemes).

Phase 3

Phase 3 introduces children to the remaining, more difficult and/or less commonly used phonemes.

Phase 5

Phase 5 teaches a set of new graphemes, alternative pronunciations for graphemes already known and alternative spellings for phonemes.

 *Phase 4 does not introduce any new sounds.

Reading at home

As your child progresses through school they will embark on their own reading journey.  During the initial phase of learning new sounds and beginning to blend words there are lots of ways you can support your child.  Please watch our video below to find out ways you can help your child when reading at home.