At a glance
- Ages
- About 4 to 7: Reception to Year 2
- Method
- Systematic synthetic phonics
- Year 1 check (England)
- 40 words, 20 pseudo-words, week of 14 June 2027
- Programmes
- DfE validated list, e.g. Read Write Inc., Little Wandle
- Guidance
- DfE Reading Framework (updated 2023)
What children usually learn, stage by stage
Every validated programme has its own order, but the broad progression is similar.
| Stage (age) | Phonics focus | What reading looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Reception (4 to 5) | Single letter sounds, then common digraphs such as sh, ch, th, ee, oo; oral blending | Blending short words like c-a-t, reading simple decodable books |
| Year 1 (5 to 6) | Remaining digraphs and trigraphs (igh, air), alternative spellings of sounds, common exception words | Reading decodable books with growing speed; phonics screening check in June |
| Year 2 (6 to 7) | Less common spellings, suffixes and spelling rules | Reading most words automatically, moving to fluency, expression and understanding |
Based on England's National Curriculum programmes of study for Years 1 and 2 and the DfE Reading Framework. Cambridge Primary teaches phonics within its reading strand in the early stages.
The Year 1 phonics screening check
In England the check is statutory for children who turn 6 by the end of the school year, usually in Year 1, and in 2027 schools give it in the week starting Monday 14 June. It has 40 words in two sections of 20, mixing real words with pseudo-words. Each pseudo-word comes with a picture of an imaginary creature, so children know it is a made-up name and must decode it rather than recognise it. Children who do not meet the standard retake it in Year 2.
Gulf British schools are not required to use the check, but many follow an English phonics programme and track children against the same expectations. Ask the school which programme it uses, because a tutor who uses the same sound names, letter formation phrases and order avoids confusing a young child.
Signs your child may need extra phonics practice
- Knows letter names but not the sounds they make.
- Can say the sounds but cannot blend them into a word.
- Guesses words from the first letter or the picture.
- Reads the same word correctly on one page and wrongly on the next.
- Spells words with missing sounds, such as 'sop' for 'stop'.
- Is reluctant to read aloud or becomes upset at reading time.
How online phonics lessons work for a 5 to 7 year old
Every lesson is 60 minutes, which is long for a young child, so the tutor builds it from short, active blocks: a fast review of sounds with flashcards on the shared whiteboard, a blending game, reading a decodable book together on screen, a movement break, writing a few words with the sounds learned, and a final game. Many families have a parent sit nearby for the first lessons to help with the headset and keep the child settled, then step back.
Phonics needs regular practice, so tutors often suggest a few minutes of sound review at home between lessons. If your child tires in the second half, tell us and the tutor will adjust the rhythm, for example more games or more breaks.
Use pure sounds at home
Say 'mmm', not 'muh', and 'sss', not 'suh'. Clipped sounds without the extra 'uh' make blending much easier, and it is how school programmes teach them.
Common questions
What is the pass mark for the phonics screening check?
The threshold is set by the Standards and Testing Agency and published each year after the check. Ask your school how your child did against it if they use the check.
My child is learning to read in Arabic and English at the same time. Is that a problem?
Not usually. The two scripts use different sound-letter systems, and children can learn both, but they benefit from very consistent practice in each. A tutor can focus on English phonics so it does not fall behind.
Which phonics programme will the tutor use?
Tell us the programme your child's school uses, such as Read Write Inc. or Little Wandle, and the tutor follows the same sounds and order.
Is 60 minutes too long for my 5 year old?
It is long for one activity, which is why lessons are split into short games and tasks with breaks. If your child needs a different pace, the tutor adapts.
What do phonics lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, the same for every subject. Lessons are one to one and 60 minutes, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial, one per household.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.