Overview

At a Sydney primary school, Jolly Phonics revolutionised literacy outcomes for young children, many from non-English-speaking backgrounds. With a multi-sensory approach, children quickly learned to read and write using the 42 phonics sounds. By the end of the kindergarten year, all students were literate, surpassing age-appropriate benchmarks despite limited parental support and English exposure outside school.

Key Statistics

1. 92.6% of students in one kindergarten class exceeded their chronological reading age.
2. 96.4% of pupils in the second class performed above their age in spelling.
3. 87.5% of all children showed accelerated literacy skills in just one academic year.

The Results

Jolly Phonics not only improved reading and writing abilities across the board but also increased children’s confidence and enthusiasm for literacy. Teachers noted significant improvements in decoding skills, spelling accuracy, and fluency, with children regularly choosing to write during their free time. This success was particularly remarkable given the challenges of limited English exposure at home. The programme’s multi-sensory, engaging methods proved ideal for students learning English as a second language.

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