Recommended DfE Validated Phonics Programmes
Phonics International by Debbie Hepplewhite (Comprehensive, FREE phonics programme which can be used from P1-P7 for phonics, reading, spelling and intervention)
https://phonicsinternational.com/
Rocket Phonics by Abigail Steel (P1-P3, Hodder/Rising Stars)
https://www.risingstars-uk.com/subjects/reading-and-ebooks/rising-stars-reading-planet/reading-planet-reception-and-ks1/rocket-phonics/rocket-phonics-ssp-programme
Floppy’s Phonics Sounds and Letters by Debbie Hepplewhite (P1-P3, OUP)
https://floppysphonics.com/
No Nonsense Phonics by Debbie Hepplewhite (P1-P3 & Intervention, Raintree)
https://phonicsintervention.org/product/no-nonsense-phonics-skills-box-set/
Wand Phonics by Debbie Hepplewhite (fully-editable online digital interactive resource to accompany Phonics International or No Nonsense Phonics)
https://wand.education/
Anne Glennie’s Petition
Current Petition *Live and under consideration* (lodged 2023) https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2037
Petition from 2017 (lodged in June 2017 and closed in May 2022) https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1668
Anne giving evidence at the Scottish Parliament in 2017 https://youtu.be/4mzciIZH4bA?si=pyNMK3ROZciyKqLb
Anne delivering training for Education Scotland in the ‘Science of Reading’ at the Scottish Learning Festival in 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37DjCrEyiGQ
Alphabetic Code Charts
A full range of over 30 free Alphabetic Code Charts https://alphabeticcodecharts.com/
Handout: English Alphabetic Code Chart A4 https://www.thelearningzoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/English-Alphabetic-Code-Chart.pdf
Phonics International Quick Links
Assessments A useful range of assessments, that can be used formally or informally, to easily identify gaps in children’s phonics knowledge and determine which units in the PI programme are suitable. https://phonicsinternational.com/assessment.html
Phonics International Programme Overview and How to Use
https://phonicsinternational.com/how2.pdf
Free Resources Page (A goldmine!) https://phonicsinternational.com/free-resources/
Phonics Forever Course Links and Resources
Code-based Spelling Activities Sheet https://www.thelearningzoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Spelling-Activities.pdf
Phonics International Sample Progression for Scotland https://www.thelearningzoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Phonics-International-Whole-School-Sample-Progression-for-Scotland.pdf
The Golden Ticket: Diane McGuiness’s Prototype for Teaching the English Alphabetic Code https://www.thelearningzoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/The-Golden-Ticket-The-Prototype-Diane-McGuinness.pdf
The Simple View of Reading Diagram https://www.thelearningzoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Simple-View-of-Reading.pdf
Petition to the Scottish Parliament on research-informed reading instruction https://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/readinginstruction
The Literacy Ice Lolly https://www.thelearningzoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Literacy-Ice-Lolly.pdf
How to Spot Fake Phonics https://www.thelearningzoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/How-to-Spot-Fake-Phonics.pdf
Identifying Reading Problems Key https://www.thelearningzoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Identifying-Reading-Problems-Bifurcating-Key.pdf
From Phonics Phobic to Phonics Fanatic https://www.thelearningzoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/NATE_TE-Primary-Matters_Summer-2017_32%C3%94%C3%87%C3%B434-GLENIE.pdf
Phonics Disco Editable PowerPoint Slides https://www.thelearningzoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Phonics-Disco.pptx
Ontario Human Rights Commission: Right To Read Report
Executive Summary
https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/right-to-read-inquiry-report
Free Audio Book Summary
https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/right-read-inquiry-report/executive-summary-audiobook
Decodable Reading Books
Many companies will be happy to send you samples and offer discounts on bulk purchases. Make sure the books you are ordering are fully decodable and are not ‘banded’ or ‘levelled’. Not all books advertised as ‘decodable’ are of a high quality.
Phonics International/No Nonsense Phonics
Hard copy and eBooks available. *NEW* Online eBook Library by Debbie Hepplewhite to support Phonics International or No Nonsense Phonics. Perfect for use on the Smartboard or on devices. Extremely rich vocabulary; will add challenge and stretch to your current decodable book choices. Highly recommended. See online sample at the link below: https://phonicsintervention.org/product/ebook-versions-of-phonics-reading-books/
Reading Planet Rocket Phonics
Attractive, inclusive and varied range of decodable reading books from Hodder/Rising Stars with fiction and nonfiction titles https://www.risingstars-uk.com/subjects/reading-and-ebooks/rising-stars-reading-planet/reading-planet-reception-and-ks1/rocket-phonics
Phonic Books Huge range of decodable reading books, particularly suitable strands for older children including the very popular Dandelion Readers https://www.phonicbooks.co.uk/
Floppy’s Phonics Decodable books to accompany Floppy’s Phonics from Oxford University Press https://floppysphonics.com/
Piper Books Designed especially for learners with ASN, decodable readers from beginner to adult https://piperbooks.co.uk/
Big Cat Phonics from Collins https://collins.co.uk/pages/phonics-for-letters-and-sounds
Phonics Forever Course Research References
‘Virtually all children (95%+) can be taught to read with systematic synthetic phonics despite background and circumstances.’
Burk, K., Hasbrouck, J. (2023)
Burk, K., Hasbrouck, J. (2023). Connecting the science of reading to social justice: Introduction to the special section. Sch Psychol. 2023 Jan;38(1):4-6. doi: 10.1037/spq0000536. PMID: 36745100.
https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2023-44323-002.html
‘The rate of foundation literacy acquisition is slower by a ratio of about 2.5:1 in English than it is in most European orthographies.’
Seymour, P. H. K., Aro, M., & Erskine, J. M. (2003)
Seymour, P. H. K., Aro, M., & Erskine, J. M. (2003). Foundation literacy acquisition in European orthographies. British Journal of Psychology, 94(2), 143-174.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/10710502_Foundation_literacy_acquisition_in_European_orthographies_Electronic_version
Grant, M. (2014). The Effects of a Systematic Synthetic Phonics Programme on Reading, Writing and Spelling https://www.syntheticphonics.net/pdf/2014-Report.pdf
Rose, J. (2006). Independent Review of the Teaching of Early Reading. DfES.
https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/id/eprint/5551/2/report.pdf
Johnston, R.S. and Watson, J.E. (2005). A seven-year study of the effects of synthetic phonics teaching on reading and spelling attainment.
https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/id/eprint/14793/1/0023582.pdf
Yoncheva YN, Wise J, McCandliss B. (2015) Hemispheric specialization for visual words is shaped by attention to sublexical units during initial learning.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25935827/
James, K.H. and Engelhardt, L. (2012). The effects of handwriting experience on functional brain development in pre-literate children
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4274624/
Reading Research and Discussion
For research information, the following sites are highly recommended:
The UK Reading Reform Foundation http://rrf.org.uk/
The International Foundation for Effective Reading Instruction https://iferi.org/
Susan Godsland’s award-winning site http://www.dyslexics.org.uk/
Right to Read Scotland: should reading or school in Scotland be delayed until age 7? https://righttoread.co.uk/
Additional Support Needs (ASN)
Phonics for Pupils with SEN by Ann Sullivan https://www.routledge.com/Phonics-for-Pupils-with-Special-Educational-Needs/book-series/PPSEN
Ann Sullivan’s website https://www.phonicsforpupilswithspecialeducationalneeds.com/
Ann Sullivan Twitter @PhonicsforSEN
Decodable readers from beginner to adult designed for children with ASN/SEN https://piperbooks.co.uk/
Additional Resources by Debbie Hepplewhite
Floppy’s Phonics Programme Overview https://floppysphonics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Debbie_PROGRAMME-OVERVIEW-AND-PHOTOS-FPsFINAL.pdf
Comprehensive online phonics training course from Debbie Hepplewhite (Master’s credits/accreditation available) https://phonicstrainingonline.com/
Free alphabet and handwriting resources https://debbiehepplewhitehandwriting.com/
Debbie’s font collection https://linkpenfonts.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=70
Phonics Screening Check and Useful Reports from England
Phonics Screening Check Materials (highly recommended!) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum-assessments-practice-materials#phonics-screening-check
‘Bold Beginnings’ looks at the Reception (Primary 1) curriculum in successful schools and how well it prepared 4 and 5 year olds for the rest of their education and beyond https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/663560/28933_Ofsted_-Early_Years_Curriculum_Report-_Accessible.pdf
The Early Reading Framework (July 2021) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1000986/Reading_framework_Teaching_the_foundations_of_literacy_-_July-2021.pdf
Ofsted Research Review Series: English (May 2022)
The Reading Framework (July 2023)
Recommended Reading: Books
Dehaene, S. (2009). Reading in the Brain.
McGuinness, D. (2004) Early Reading Instruction: What Science Tells Us
McGuinness, D. (1998) Why Children Can’t Read: And What We Can Do About It
Scots, Scottish English, and Phonics
Scottish Alphabetic Code Chart (for teacher reference only) https://www.thelearningzoo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Trial-Alphabetic-Code-Chart-for-Scottish-English.pdf