CONGRATULATIONS to Rhona Johnson and Joyce Watson for their excellent reading and spelling results using synthetic phonics compared with either the analytic phonics of the National Literacy Strategy or with analytic phonics plus rime training (“Scots throw down literacy gauntlet,” TES, November 6).
My English local authority is aware of the St Andrews work and we have delivered in-service training in synthetic phonics to about 100 key stage 1 teachers.
I can assure the Government spokesman who doubted whether such results could be replicated in England that we are achieving similar results in schools in our area using synthetic phonics.
Dr Marlynne Grant Chartered educational psychologist.
Bristol
