Monster Phonics and Cardiff Council launch major three year literacy partnership at Cardiff City Stadium
Cardiff, Wales
Monster Phonics is proud to be working in partnership with Cardiff Council on an ambitious three year literacy initiative to strengthen early reading and help reduce the reading disadvantage gap across the city.
The official launch of the partnership took place at Cardiff City Stadium, where school leaders and educators from across Cardiff came together to begin a shared journey to strengthen early reading for all learners.
The session was opened by Melanie Godfrey, Director of Education, and Helen Williams, Assistant Director of Education, who welcomed attendees and set out Cardiff’s ambition for a city wide approach to improving reading outcomes.
The initiative builds on Monster Phonics’ existing work with Cardiff schools, where a significant number of schools already use the programme. It also follows a successful Welsh longitudinal study in 2023 to 2024, involving 10 schools, which showed strong progress for pupils, including those with lower starting points.
Ingrid Connors, Founder and CEO of Monster Phonics, said:
“This means a great deal to us. Monster Phonics was created with one clear purpose: to help every child become a confident, successful reader, whatever their background, starting point or school. We are especially pleased that Cardiff has recognised an approach that combines the rigour of a UK Department for Education validated phonics programme with the engagement, colour coding and multisensory support that help children feel successful. That balance of structure, inclusion and joy in learning feels closely aligned with the values of education in Wales. Cardiff’s ambition to build a more inclusive and consistent reading journey across the city is exactly the kind of work we want to support. We look forward to working alongside Cardiff schools, teachers and leaders over the next three years, helping to build confidence, strengthen early reading practice and give more children the strongest possible start.”
The initiative reflects Monster Phonics’ continued commitment to supporting schools and education systems with engaging, inclusive and research informed approaches to early reading.