At St John’s Primary School, we follow Essential Letters and Sounds as our chosen phonics scheme.
Synthetic phonics is a way of teaching children to read and write. It focuses on teaching how sounds are represented by written letters. Children are then taught to blend these sounds together to read words.
For example:
The letters m-a-t can be blended to make the word mat.
A synthetic phonics programme, such as Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS), introduces sounds in a carefully planned order. This allows children to build their skills step by step and grow in confidence as readers and writers.
Phonics is taught daily during Reception and Year 1, covering all the sounds in the English language.
With Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS), children take part in a daily phonics lesson. In each session:
The teacher introduces a new sound (or reviews a previously taught sound).
Children learn the letters that represent this sound.
They practise reading words and sentences containing the sound.
They also practise writing the letters that represent the sound.
This consistent daily approach helps children develop the skills they need to become fluent, confident readers and writers.