The Sounds-Write Blog
Phonics Screening Check – top tips for a strong start to the academic year
Whilst the timing of this blog was prompted by the start of the new academic year in the UK, the guidance will be useful to teachers using a Phonics Screening Check anywhere around the world. Welcome to the start of another new academic year! Whilst the PSC (Phonics...
Improving reading and spelling with Sounds-Write: the view from Victoria, Australia
A new era for state schools in Victoria, Australia In Victoria, Australia, the science of reading is gaining recognition as a crucial element in improving literacy outcomes for students. Phonics in particular, has been identified as a fundamental skill that forms the...
The Phonics Screening Check 2024: Our Analysis
CEO, John Walker, reflects on the history and purpose of the phonics screening check and shares his advice for educators looking to support their students going forward. Twelve years on and after much initial opposition, English schools have just run the latest...
PSC… Now what?
What can we learn from the Phonics Screening Check to inform the next steps for those learners?
Sounds-Write in Schools: Our Visit to Twynyrodyn Community School in Wales
Last week, John Walker and I had the privilege of visiting Twynyrodyn Community School in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, to observe their phonics lessons in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, as well as in an intervention setting. The school motto is ‘Giving our children the best...
What you need to know about training in Sounds-Write in the US and Canada
There’s so much for schools and educators to consider when switching literacy programs. From managing staffing and resources to understanding the financial implications involved. To help you navigate this transition successfully, we’ve put together a comprehensive...
Meet the Sounds-Write team: Naomi
Meet the team! Naomi is our Head of Training and has a wealth of experience in teaching.
Raising students’ achievements through responsive teaching
'Right now, it looks like there is nothing that we can do that's going to have a bigger effect than helping teachers make their teaching more responsive to student needs.' In the latest episode of Anna Stokke's brilliant Chalk & Talk podcast (Ep 24), Dylan Wiliam...
5 highlights from Australia
John and Tita have spent the past five weeks in Australia, visiting schools and trainers, giving talks and attending a conference. Read on to hear some of the insights they’ve gained from their visit.
A ‘really tight’ Phonics Lead, Teeside, UK
After publishing our Phonics Lead Handbook in 2023, we wanted to hear from those who are using it, so we spoke to Karen Rees, a Year 1/2 Class Teacher and Key Stage 1 Leader, who is the Phonics Lead at Galley Hill Primary School in Guisborough, Teesside.