Phonics Phase 2: Letters and Sounds

Phase 2 is typically taught in Reception (age 4-5) and introduces the first 19 letter sounds. Children learn one sound at a time, starting with the most useful letters: s, a, t, p, i, n, m, d, g, o, c, k, ck, e, u, r, h, b, f, ff, l, ll, ss.

Children learn to recognise each letter, say its sound (phoneme), and write it. They begin blending sounds together to read simple words (c-a-t = cat) and segmenting words into sounds to spell them.

By the end of Phase 2, children can read and write simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like "sat", "pin" and "dog". They also learn a few tricky words that cannot be sounded out, such as "the", "I", "no" and "go".

Phase 2 is where reading begins. Children who master these first sounds and learn to blend them fluently have the tools to decode thousands of words independently. This early success builds confidence and a love of reading.

Research consistently shows that systematic synthetic phonics is the most effective way to teach reading. Phase 2 lays the foundation that everything else builds on -- without secure Phase 2 knowledge, children struggle with Phases 3, 4 and 5.

1. 1

   Say the pure sound, not the letter name: 'sss' not 'ess', 'mmm' not 'em'.

2. 2

   Practise blending with your child: say 's-a-t' slowly, then blend to 'sat'.

3. 3

   Play I Spy using letter sounds, not letter names: 'I spy something beginning with sss.'

4. 4

   Use magnetic letters on the fridge to build simple words.

5. 5

   Read the tricky words ('the', 'I', 'no', 'go') on sight -- these just need to be memorised.

6. 6

   Keep practice short and fun -- 5-10 minutes daily is more effective than long sessions.