A full list of all validated SSP programmes can be viewed here. Whilst there is no statutory requirement for schools to choose one of the SSP programmes on the validated list and Ofsted does not have a preferred programme or approach it’s important that “schools take an approach that is rigorous, systematic, used with fidelity (any resources used should exactly match the Grapheme Phoneme Correspondence (GPC) progression of their chosen SSP approach), and achieves strong results for all pupils, including the most disadvantaged.” (DfE: Choosing a phonics teaching programme, updated Jan 23.)
We've collated mapping & supporting documents from a range of publishers of phonics resources to help you easily compare what is available and potentially help to identify which books in your existing provision will fit into a commercially available Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) teaching programme or your school’s own SSP. If you are auditing your resources, you may need to top up with additional books to ensure your provision meets national curriculum and Ofsted requirements for teaching reading using systematic synthetic phonics. These documents should help with this.
Glossary of Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised terminology
Key features of effective phonics practice — Through the English Hubs Programme, seven key features have been identified as characterising phonics teaching in highly successful schools, no matter which validated programme is being used. This document shows how these essential criteria apply to Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.
The Little Wandle SEND Programme has been developed to be used with the graduated approach to teach children to learn to read in small steps that provide the right amount of challenge. It is anticipated that most children and young people who follow it will be in specialist provision of some kind. The SEND Programme isn’t additional practice for those children who are falling slightly behind their peers. It provides pathways for pupils who may need very specific adaptations to the teaching steps because they have complex needs, and has been developed with the advice from Special schools across the country. See samples of Phase 2,Phase 3, Phase 4 and Phase 5 SEND Programme weekly grids.
Scan the QR code below or click HERE for more information about Little Wandle and how to join one of their information briefings, or watch this video explaining the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised approach to the application of phonics to reading.
Browse Little Wandle resources available from Badger Learning here. All reading scheme books purchased from Badger Learning are supplied fitted with free protective jackets.
Collins Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds can be used as part of a Letters and Sounds SSP programme. Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is a fully validated SSP programme using 204 Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds books with a range of additional resources, training, and online support. For schools that are looking for an SSP programme and have been happy using Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds, Little Wandle could be a good option, allowing schools to adopt a full SSP programme and still utilise a significant proportion of their existing resources.
Browse the full range of Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds resources, with free fitted easy-to-clean jackets, available from Badger Learning here.
Bug Club Phonics books are nicely aligned to Phases 1–5 of Letters and Sounds and offer varied, engaging and fun books to support children learning to decode and enjoy reading. Books are not stilted and introduce the phonemes and graphemes systematically providing valuable experiences and opportunities to practise and build on the phonics taught in class. These bright and colourful books include inside cover notes and tips on how to share books effectively, identifying the phonics focus and possible extension activities.
The following video provides an overview of Bug Club Phonics.
Browse Bug Club Phonics books from Badger Learning here — as always, all reading scheme books purchased from Badger Learning will be supplied with FREE fitted protective jackets that will ensure your investment lasts.
Rocket Phonics — Rising Stars Reading Planet
Rocket Phonics Progression Chart — Every Rocket Phonics book is fully-decodable and has been expertly aligned to Letters and Sounds.
From the reading specialist teachers and experts at Phonic Books®, the Dandelion Launchers and Readers series feature books which take children on a carefully guided phonics journey linked closely to the phases of Letters and Sounds. The text is decodable at every stage with the gradual introduction of high frequency words. Starting with the Launchers series, readers will recap the same progression in the Readers series but build their stamina with more text per page, moving on to the Readers Extended Phonic Code.
Browse Dandelion Books here. If you purchase your books from Badger Learning they will be supplied fitted with protective jackets at no extra cost, meaning your books will last longer and are easy to clean.
Essential Letters and Sounds
ELS is published by Oxford University Press and supported by their comprehensive range of fully decodable books.
Click hereto view the Oxford decodable reading books matched to the Essential Letters & Sounds order of teaching and related GPCs.
Watch an introduction to Essential Letters and Sounds below
Essential Letters and Sounds is an affordable, easy-to-use, DfE validated phonics programme developed by teachers from Knowledge Schools Trust. Essential Letters and Sounds helps schools deliver effective phonics teaching based on Letters and Sounds (2007) provides a structured approach to teaching phonics and works with the decodable books you may already have in your classroom.
The online teaching subscription is available to purchase directly from Oxford University Press. You can find details of the ELS teaching subscription at essentiallettersandsounds.org
View ELS reading books, pupil activity books and additional resources here. These packs of reading books contain all the books you need to match the ELS progression within a half term, so you know you will have exactly what you need.
If you purchase your books from Badger Learning they will be supplied fitted with protective jackets at no extra cost, meaning your books will last longer and are easy to clean.
Floppy's Phonics
Floppy’s Phonics Teaching Progression — This chart shows the systematic way Oxford Reading Tree resources help to build reading progress through phonics sounds and letters.
A rigorous, easy to use synthetic phonics teaching programme that engages children from the outset and enables them to learn to read quickly. Fully decodable books offer children reading practice that’s matched to their phonic knowledge. These colourful and engaging books use the popular Oxford Reading Tree characters and action packed illustrations to make learning phonics fun. Developed with Debbie Hepplewhite MBE, a prolific author, trainer and advisor on synthetic phonics. Browse Floppy's Phonics Teaching Programme books here.
This levelled set of reading books has been carefully designed to support readers through the different phases of the Letter and Sounds phonics programme. The books are well produced, fun, varied and will engage readers as well as provide the appropriate phonic development for beginner readers. A good mix of fiction and non-fiction books with bright illustrations and photographs. Browse the series here.
Read Write Inc. Phonics
Developed by Ruth Miskin and published by Oxford University Press, Read Write Inc. Phonics is a high-impact DfE validated Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) programme that transforms reading and writing for every child. It uses a whole school approach to teaching early reading and writing.
Watch the video below to find out more about Read Write Inc. Phonics.
Click this link to view the colourful Book Bag Books which support all stages of phonic learning for schools using Read Write Inc. Phonics. Keep your books for longer with our fully fitted protective jackets provided free of charge.
Red Squirrel Phonics
Red Squirrel Phonics Alignment Chart— This alignment document is for guidance only. There is no direct relationship between Red Squirrel Phonics and any other phonics schemes.
Red Squirrel is compromised of 100 decodable reading books which introduce phonics in a sequential and systematic way. Letter sounds (phonemes), and the written letter/s that represent them (graphemes) are taught, practiced and then applied through reading a text which contains these sounds. This ensures that every beginning reader will experience success in their reading from their very first book!
Unlocking Letters and Sounds is a systematic synthetic phonics programme from Ransom Publishing that has been co-created by two English Hubs, Unlocking Excellence and Mangotsfield Primary. This DfE validated phonics programme supports ‘the lowest 20%’ and includes 204 fully decodable reading books from Phases 2 to 5 of the Reading Stars Phonics range, along with handbooks for every phase, flashcards, flash books, sound mats, wall friezes and an alphabet song. Teaching support includes tools to identify the lowest 20% and implement interventions, over 350 daily lesson plans and access to pre-recorded training videos.
