Like most primary schools,  Great Waldingfield CEVC Primary School uses a method of teaching called 'synthetic Phonics' to help children learn to read and spell. On this page you will find information on what synthetic phonics (known to the children as ‘Phonics’) is and how you can help your child develop this vital skill.

Phonics is one method of teaching children how to read and write. It's all about sounds. There are 44 sounds in the English language, which we put together to form words. Some are represented by one letter, like 't', and some by two or more, like 'ck' in duck and 'air' in chair. Children are taught the sounds first, then how to match them to letters, and finally how to use the letter sounds for reading and spelling. Synthetic phonics refers to 'synthesising', or blending, the sounds to read words. It's based on the idea that children should sound out unknown words and not rely on their context.

The 44 sounds (phonemes) of the English language, and the way they are written down, are taught one by one. The order of teaching these sounds has been specially developed so that children can start reading complete words as soon as possible. A phonics lesson begins with revising any sounds the children have already been taught. Then the teacher will introduce a new sound and its spelling.

Letters and Sounds - Phases

At Great Waldingfield, we use a teaching scheme called 'Letters and Sounds' alongside ‘Phonics Play’ to teach Synthetic Phonics. This scheme is split into 6 Phases with the children starting Phase 1 in Reception and moving through to Phase 6 by Year 2-3.