What the lesson is about

In England, the new statutory Year 1 (P1) phonics screening begins this summer. Scotland does not have the same screening process, but teachers may find some of the materials useful.

Phonic Books has produced texts from Dandelion Books to help pupils progress through the various phases. Dandelion Launchers consists of 60 books for foundation readers introducing key sounds and CVC (consonant- vowel-consonant) patterns. Then there are 80 Dandelion Readers covering phases 3, 4, 5 that develop pupils’ vocabulary with more complex graphemes to build confidence in blending.

Each book has plenty of vivid illustrations, a reading game and a practice page. The games help children practise blending, identify real words and sort different graphemes. The practice page can be used to rehearse sounds and build their confidence in reading. Each series comes with a booklet of teaching notes. For further information, visit www.phonicbooks.co.uk

What else?

Publisher Espresso, with literacy consultant Gill Budgell, has produced videos to introduce and reinforce phonics.

Each video focuses on segmenting for spelling and blending for reading, and ways to help students make the right sound. Phonics phases are divided into animated screens, which allow you to select a sound. Presenters Cat Sandion and Radzi Chinyanganya then demonstrate the pronunciation, before introducing new vocabulary.

Register with Espresso for online access to these materials and many others at www.espresso.co.uk.

TES phonics adviser Mr Thorne shares a videos and flashcard sets to help prepare for the phonics screening check, and has selected the top 20 teacher-made phonics resources.