Question 1

1A: What actually is Jolly Phonics?

Accepted Answer

The Jolly Phonics and Grammar programme is a systematic and progressive approach to teaching children essential literacy skills. It embeds phonics, spelling, punctuation and grammar from Reception/P1 to Year 6/P7 via teaching that is multi-sensory and active with fun actions, stories and songs.
You can find out more about the programme [by clicking here.](https://jolly-next-umber.vercel.app/resources/phonics-and-literacy-teaching-guides-and-assessments/what-is-jolly-phonics)

Question 2

1B: Why do you teach letter sounds instead of letter names?

Accepted Answer

Learning the letter sounds helps with blending (putting sounds together to make words, for reading) and segmenting (listening for the sounds in words, for spelling). The letter sounds can be identified in these words unlike the letter names.
(The letter names do still get taught relatively early on – we don’t ignore them completely – but initially the focus is on the sound, and not the name.)

Question 3

1C: Why do you teach letter sounds in a different order to the alphabet?

Accepted Answer

The letters from the first group (s, a, t, i, p, n) make more simple three-letter words than any other six letters, allowing children far more opportunities to start developing their blending and segmenting knowledge and skills as early as possible.

Question 4

1D: How can there be more letter sounds (42) than letters (26)?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes, two letters put together can create a different sound to each letter put individually. For example, the letter sounds /s/ and /h/ make a new sound when combined as the digraph /sh/.

Question 5

1E: Some letter sounds can be spelt in different ways, such as the /ai/ sound in ‘cake’ and ‘day’. How does Jolly Phonics address that?

Accepted Answer

We teach one way of spelling the letter sounds initially, before later introducing alternatives as the programme progresses in to the later Grammar years.
You can find out more about the progression of alternative spellings by **[viewing our Sample Lesson plan here.](https://jolly-next-umber.vercel.app/resources/phonics-and-literacy-teaching-guides-and-assessments/sample-lessons)**

Question 6

1F: What about words that aren’t easily decodable, such as ‘because’?

Accepted Answer

We include a selection of ‘Tricky Words’; words that cannot be decoded using regular blending and segmenting. These are taught specifically as sight words that children simply need to learn.
    You can find out more about Tricky Words with **[this video via our YouTube channel.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtFfYJXUdwY)**

Question 7

1G: What is the difference between 'print' and 'precursive' letters?

Accepted Answer

Precursive letters have exit tails – ‘little flicks’ – at the end that encourage joined-up handwriting. Print letters, meanwhile, do not have these. Many of the Jolly Phonics resources are available in both precursive and print letters, so it is important to check what your school policy is to ensure you purchase the correct versions.
    ![](https://directus-ozfww.ondigitalocean.app/assets/0f7fed57-1f6e-4363-9275-bbab2ff803e8)
Although this is not always the case, generally speaking those following a British English curriculum will use precursive letters, whilst those following an American English curriculum will use print letters.
Unfortunately, we do not have any resources that are available in fully cursive letters (with entry strokes).

Question 8

1H: Is Jolly Phonics validated by the Department of Education?

Accepted Answer

Trusted by teachers and loved by children, we’re delighted to announce that Jolly Phonics has been validated by the Department for Education as a complete systematic synthetic phonics programme. [Find Out More Here](https://jolly-next-umber.vercel.app/jolly-phonics)

This means that the programme meets the **[16 essential core criteria](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-teaching-materials-core-criteria-and-self-assessment/validation-of-systematic-synthetic-phonics-programmes-supporting-documentation#essential-criteria)** required by the DfE.

Question 9

1I: Can I use other phonics readers alongside the Jolly Phonics programme?

Accepted Answer

All of our Jolly Phonics Readers are decodable, meaning they match the skills and knowledge taught within the Jolly Phonics programme. This means that the text is constantly within reach of the children, who are able to apply their knowledge to practice reading skills.
Other readers may contain words or spelling patterns that have not yet been taught within Jolly Phonics, meaning not only that the children will be unable to read certain parts, but also may create a negative experience that puts them off reading altogether. If you plan on ‘mixing and matching’ books from different schemes, schools must be very careful and check that the books being given to children have letter sounds and tricky words that have already been taught.
You can find out more information on our full range of decodable readers **[by clicking here](https://jolly-next-umber.vercel.app/resources/informational-resource-flyers/jolly-phonics-decodable-readers-flyer)**. You can also discover how Jolly Phonics aligns with Book Bands **[by clicking here.](https://jolly-next-umber.vercel.app/resources/phonics-and-literacy-teaching-guides-and-assessments/jolly-phonics-readers-and-book-bands)**

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1A: What actually is Jolly Phonics?

1B: Why do you teach letter sounds instead of letter names?

1C: Why do you teach letter sounds in a different order to the alphabet?

1D: How can there be more letter sounds (42) than letters (26)?

1E: Some letter sounds can be spelt in different ways, such as the /ai/ sound in ‘cake’ and ‘day’. How does Jolly Phonics address that?

1F: What about words that aren’t easily decodable, such as ‘because’?

1G: What is the difference between 'print' and 'precursive' letters?

1H: Is Jolly Phonics validated by the Department of Education?

1I: Can I use other phonics readers alongside the Jolly Phonics programme?

2A: Where can I buy Jolly resources?

2B: How much is delivery on orders?

2C: Will I be charged custom duties and taxes?

2D: How can I download digital editions of resources?

2E: How do I contact you about my order?

2F: What is the difference between British English and American English editions?

2G: What is the difference between the Pupil Books and the Student Books?

3A: How can I undertake Jolly Phonics Training?

3B: Will Jolly Phonics training events give me a formal qualification?

3C: How can I become an Official Jolly Phonics Trainer?

3D: Do you run training sessions to become an Official Jolly Phonics Trainer?

Technical Support Overview

Jolly Classroom General Support

Jolly Classroom system requirements

Setting up Jolly Classroom

Jolly Classroom free trials

Jolly Phonics For The Whiteboard (No Longer Available To Buy)

Jolly Phonics Decodable E-Readers

Jolly Phonics Games/CDROM

Jolly Phonics Letter Sounds App

Jolly Phonics Songs App

Jolly Phonics Lessons, Fun and Tests Apps

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