Explore simple, expert guides that explain every stage of phonics. Whether you’re a parent supporting reading at home or a teacher planning lessons, you’ll find step-by-step explanations, practical advice and free printable resources.
What is phonics?
Learn what phonics is, why it’s taught and how it helps children learn to read.
How do children learn how to read?
Discover the stages children go through as they become confident readers.
Phonics FAQs
Find answers to the questions parents and teachers ask most often.
Explore the Phonics Phases
Follow the UK’s phonics progression from Phase 1 to Phase 6. Each guide explains the sounds taught, key learning objectives and includes links to free resources.
Phase 1
Develop listening skills, sound awareness, rhyme and oral language through fun activities before learning letter sounds.
Phase 2
Learn the first letter-sound correspondences, begin blending simple words and build early reading confidence.
Phase 3
Explore new graphemes, digraphs, trigraphs and tricky words while developing reading and spelling skills.
Phase 4
Consolidate blending and segmenting skills while reading and spelling words containing adjacent consonants.
Phase 5
Explore alternative spellings, split digraphs and more complex graphemes to develop confident reading and spelling.
Phase 6
Apply phonics knowledge through spelling, grammar and fluent reading as children become confident, independent learners.
Learn Key Phonics Concepts
Digraphs
Learn what digraphs are, how they work and discover common digraphs taught in early phonics.
Trigraphs
Discover how three letters can work together to make one sound, with clear examples and activities.
Split Digraphs
Learn how split digraphs change vowel sounds and explore simple examples for early readers.
Phonemes
Learn how phonemes are the smallest units of sound in spoken words and how children use them to read and spell.
Graphemes
Learn what graphemes are, how they relate to phonemes and GPCs and how children use them when reading and spelling.
GPCs
Learn how GPCs support reading and spelling, with simple examples and explanations.
Blending & Segmenting
Discover how children learn to blend sounds together for reading and segment words apart for spelling.
CVC Words
Explore simple consonant-vowel-consonant words that help children practise early blending and reading skills.