Teach Lessons
Jolly Phonics lessons are taught in three progressive steps, each building children’s skills and confidence as they move from recognising individual sounds to reading and writing independently. Every step offers carefully structured lessons that combine systematic synthetic phonics with handwriting, blending, and segmenting practice. The teaching is cumulative, ensuring that with each new sound learned, pupils can read and write an increasing number of words.
Step 1 – Foundations for Reading and Writing
Children are introduced to the five key skills of Jolly Phonics and the 42 main letter–sound correspondences. They learn correct letter formation, practise blending and segmenting, and begin reading and writing simple words. Towards the end of this step, the first tricky words are introduced to widen reading opportunities.
Step 2 – Building Confidence and Fluency
Pupils strengthen their skills through structured weekly units that consolidate prior learning. They explore alternative spellings for vowel sounds, learn more tricky words and begin using capital letters. Writing activities encourage fuller sentences and growing independence.
Step 3 – Extending Skills and Comprehension
This final step deepens phonics knowledge and focuses on comprehension, vocabulary and fluent writing. Pupils continue practising alternative spellings and tricky words while developing more complex sentence structures and independent writing skills.
