Guidance on choosing a phonics teaching programme 

High-quality phonics teaching can improve children’s literacy levels, give them a solid base which they can build on as they progress through school, and help them to develop the habit of reading

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on gov.uk

In April 2021 the DfE published revised core criteria for effective systematic synthetic phonics teaching programmes (SSP) and launched a new process to validate those programmes. Whilst there is no statutory requirement for schools to choose one of the SSP programmes on the validated list, as Ofsted does not have a preferred programme or approach, it is important that schools take an approach that is rigorous, systematic and used with fidelity which achieves strong results for all pupils, including the most disadvantaged. A complete SSP programme is one that provides:

• all that’s essential to teach SSP to children in the Reception and KS1 years of mainstream primary schools;
• sufficient support for children in Reception and KS 1 to become fluent readers;
• a structured route for most children to meet or exceed the expected standard in the Y1 phonics screening check;
• all national curriculum expectations for word reading through decoding by the end of KS1.

For more guidance on choosing the SSP programme that’s best for your school, contact your local English hub which can offer guidance on the details of each validated programme to help with your decision – or, if you are or are about to become a partner school supported by one of our English hubs, contact the hub to discuss which SSP programme to use in your school.

In addition to providing an updated list of validated programmes, the DfE have launched a package of measures designed to support schools in providing excellent reading provision and developing pupils’ proficiency in, and love of, reading. The package includes:

• guidance for schools on early reading: The reading framework: teaching the foundations of literacy;
• £8.7m additional funding in the 2022-2023 academic year to support schools to purchase and embed complete SSP programmes from the validated list, including their associated training and resources;
• a new national professional qualification for leading literacy (NPQLL), launched in October 2022, to train teachers and leaders to become literacy experts who will drive up standards of literacy teaching in their schools and improve literacy outcomes for every child.

Schools that are interested in purchasing a validated programme can contact their local English hub to see what support they’re eligible for.