Recent headlines have once again shone a light on the literacy challenge facing schools in Wales. Concerns have been raised that children’s ability to read is, in many cases, a “lottery,” depending on which school they attend and which approach to phonics their teachers have been encouraged to use.
Education specialist Fin Wilson, director of Impact Wales, recently told BBC Radio Wales that teachers are “working so hard to help children to read,” but that the real issue lies in the guidance they receive. Too often, teachers are not being directed towards the most effective method of teaching reading – Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP).
Wilson was clear: multi-cueing strategies, such as looking at pictures or guessing, simply do not work. Instead, children need explicit, consistent teaching that matches sounds to letters and helps them decode text with confidence. It is this method – SSP – that is proven to accelerate progress and narrow the literacy gap.
And yet, despite evidence, policy has been slow to provide clarity. As Wilson put it:
“They’re not being given the guidance that they need to understand how to do it effectively.”
The Welsh Government has recognised the importance of phonics and updated its guidance earlier this year. However, results from international benchmarks like PISA continue to show that Welsh pupils, on average, score lower in reading than their peers in other UK nations. Parents and educators are right to expect more – every child in Wales deserves the best possible start in reading.
Monster Phonics is the only DfE-validated SSP programme that uses a unique, engaging colour-coded system to make phonics more memorable and accessible for children. Over 100 schools in Wales have already chosen Monster Phonics, with powerful results for pupils and teachers alike.
Here’s why over 10% of schools in Wales have made the switch:
Parents should not have to worry about whether their child is in a school that uses the most effective method for teaching reading. It’s time for consistency, clarity and evidence-based practice across Wales.
By choosing Monster Phonics as their SSP, schools can be confident they are not only following the research, but also giving every child the best possible chance to succeed.
👉 Want to see how Monster Phonics could transform reading in your school? Enjoy a free trial or demo today.
Monster Phonics – Schools in Wales
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