• Life (and Phonics) Are All About Balance!

  Posted on February 10, 2025February 10, 2025

  Posted by Ian Connors

  A blog for Early Years teachers and senior leaders. As a phonics company known for taking an enhanced approach, we...

• The Importance of Decodable Reading Books

  Posted on January 31, 2025

  Posted by Hannah Stockley

  When it comes to teaching children how to read, decodable books play a pivotal role in ensuring early success. These...

• Top Tips for Teaching Assistants: Supporting your focus children in whole-class phonics lessons...

  Posted on January 27, 2025

  Posted by Kathryn Tilbury

  Whole-class phonics lessons are essential for building early reading skills, but they can be challenging for some children who require...

• Save the Children – a Blue Print for Northern Ireland...

  Posted on January 17, 2025

  Posted by Ian Connors

  Many parts of the UK have embraced a structured, systems-led focus on phonics. However, Northern Ireland’s efforts have lagged behind,...

• Supporting Phonics in Key Stage 2

  Posted on January 16, 2025January 16, 2025

  Posted by Hannah Stockley

  Teaching phonics to older pupils in Key Stage 2 can be challenging, particularly when balancing curriculum demands with addressing learning...

• How to Teach Common Exception Words

  Posted on January 2, 2025January 3, 2025

  Posted by Joanna Peristiani

  What Are Common Exception Words? Common Exception Words (CEW), often referred to as ‘tricky words‘, are those that do not...

• What Are Tricky Words? A Guide for Teachers

  Posted on December 19, 2024December 19, 2024

  Posted by Joanna Peristiani

  When teaching young learners to read and write, one of the key challenges educators face is helping students navigate the...

• Maximising Funding to Transform Your School: A Practical Guide for Headteachers...

  Posted on December 16, 2024January 3, 2025

  Posted by Ian Connors

  As an ex-headteacher, I understand the immense pressure schools face to deliver exceptional outcomes, often with limited resources. In these...

• Falling in Love with Phonics: Why Fidelity Matters

  Posted on December 16, 2024

  Posted by Ian Connors

  In our discussions with international schools around the world, we often hear something like this: “We do phonics. We do...

• When should you start teaching handwriting?

  Posted on December 12, 2024December 12, 2024

  Posted by Kathryn Tilbury

  We often get asked ‘when should we start teaching handwriting?’ Handwriting and phonics go hand in hand. Within your phonics...