Overview

St Michael’s School in Bristol embraced Jolly Phonics and achieved remarkable improvements in just three months. After a structured, fast-paced programme teaching 42 sounds, Reception pupils gained an average of six months in reading and spelling. The multi-sensory approach and parental involvement made learning enjoyable and effective, giving children a confident start to literacy.

Key Statistics

1. 90.6% of children were above their chronological age in reading after three months.
2. 81.3% of students achieved above-age-level spelling skills in the same timeframe.
3. 28 of 65 pupils had reading ages of 6 years or more, despite being as young as 4 years and 10 months.

The Results

Switching to Jolly Phonics transformed literacy at St Michael’s. Pupils quickly learned to blend sounds, decode words, and write confidently, with boys and girls making equally strong progress. Parents played an active role, further supporting their children’s development. Teachers noted fewer students needing remedial support and increased enthusiasm for reading and writing across all abilities.

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