The following Q&A is copied verbatim from the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ website:
"Myth: I've been told I have to use 'Letters and Sounds' (the Primary National Strategy's phonics teaching programme).
Fact: No, you don't. It is not compulsory to use 'Letters and Sounds'. You may already be using a high quality commercial phonics programme which you feel meets the core criteria, or you may have devised one yourself. Your professional judgement, together with knowledge of the children you teach, is the best way to determine which high quality phonics programme is going to be the right one for you. Some Local Authorities will make the decision that all their schools should use a particular phonics programme. However we do not prescribe to Local Authorities, schools or settings the use of any one programme."
(Source: http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/phonics/faqs/ - checked 16th June 2008)
To see the full entry for Sounds~Write on the DCSF’s website, follow this link
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/phonics/programmes/publishers/soundswrite/
Item Filed: 17/06/2008