Sounds-Write in the Early Years
Sounds-Write in the Early Years
Before the Initial Code
This course is designed specifically for the phase before children begin learning the Initial Code in the first year of formal schooling (Reception in UK, Kindy in Australia, Kindergarten in US). It supports practitioners working in early years or nursery/Pre-K settings to build the crucial foundations for reading success—through phonological and phonemic awareness, language and physical development, and playful, multi-sensory learning.
While it does introduce the very beginning of the Sounds-Write Initial Code, its main purpose is to prepare children for formal phonics teaching in school. If you’re working with children who haven’t yet started Reception/Kindy/Kindergarten, this is the ideal starting point.
About the Course
Our Sounds-Write in the Early Years: Getting Ready for Reading course is a comprehensive, self-paced online training. The course is designed to equip early years educators with bite-sized, easy-to-follow modules that build confidence and skills to get children ready for reading success. Rooted in the Science of Reading, the course guides practitioners through the fundamentals of phonological and phonemic awareness, language and physical development, and the delivery of structured, evidence-based phonics lessons. With a clear focus on early literacy foundations, the course includes engaging activities, scripted lessons, and strategies for involving parents and carers in the learning journey.
Access to the course starts from 1st September in the UK and 15th August elsewhere.
7 hours of training
Train your whole team for one price
Online, self-paced course
Try it for free!
Download our first three lessons and get started right away.
Support language & physical development
Build phonological & phonemic awareness skills
Lay the foundations of learning to read
What's Included
- Training in phonics and the Science of Reading for your whole team.
- Phonological and phonemic awareness games and activities.
- Scripted Sound-Write Lessons and how to use them.
- Learn how to cultivate children’s language and physical development.
- Word lists, sentences and phonics resources.
- Strategies for differentiation and scaffolding.
- Professional development certificate upon completion of the course.
Multi-sensory Phonics Through Play and Exploration
Our multi-sensory phonics approach taps into sight, sound, touch, and movement—helping young children connect sounds to spellings in a way that’s memorable, engaging, fun and developmentally appropriate
Pricing
Access to the course starts from 1st September in the UK and 15th August elsewhere.
Nurseries attached to Sounds-Write Membership schools *
per nursery for 12 months
£75 per year thereafter
Includes:
- Training for your entire team
- Lessons, scripts and planning guidance
- Word lists, sentences and phonics resources
- Access to the training platform for 12 months
Price excludes any applicable tax, which will be applied at point of invoicing.
*The nursery must be attached to a school with a current Sounds-Write annual membership.
All other nurseries
per nursery for 12 months
£75 per year thereafter
Includes:
- Training for your entire team
- Lessons, scripts and planning guidance
- Word lists, sentences and phonics resources
- Access to the training platform for 12 months
Price excludes any applicable tax, which will be applied at point of invoicing.
Individuals
per person for 12 months
£75 per year thereafter
Includes:
- Train in Sounds-Write in the Early Years
- Lessons, scripts and planning guidance
- Word lists, sentences and phonics resources
- Access to the training platform for 12 months
Price excludes any applicable tax, which will be applied at point of invoicing.
Nurseries attached to Sounds-Write schools *
per nursery for 12 months
$150 per year thereafter
Includes:
- Training for your entire team
- Lessons, scripts and planning guidance
- Phonics and literacy resources
- Access to the training platform for 12 months
Price excludes any applicable tax, which will be applied at point of invoicing.
*The nursery must be attached to a school that is currently using Sounds-Write.
All other nurseries
per nursery for 12 months
$150 per year thereafter
Includes:
- Training for your entire team
- Lessons, scripts and planning guidance
- Word lists, sentences and phonics resources
- Access to the training platform for 12 months
Price excludes any applicable tax, which will be applied at point of invoicing.
Individuals
per person for 12 months
$150 per year thereafter
Includes:
- Train in Sounds-Write in the Early Years
- Lessons, scripts and planning guidance
- Word lists, sentences and phonics resources
- Access to the training platform for 12 months
Price excludes any applicable tax, which will be applied at point of invoicing.
All pre-schools
per nursery for 12 months
$140 per year thereafter
Includes:
- Training for your entire team
- Lessons, scripts and planning guidance
- Word lists, sentences and phonics resources
- Access to the training platform for 12 months
Price excludes any applicable tax, which will be applied at point of invoicing.
Individuals
per person for 12 months
$140 per year thereafter
Includes:
- Train in Sounds-Write in the Early Years
- Lessons, scripts and planning guidance
- Word lists, sentences and phonics resources
- Access to the training platform for 12 months
Price excludes any applicable tax, which will be applied at point of invoicing.
All pre-schools
per nursery for 12 months
$100 per year thereafter
Includes:
- Training for your entire team
- Lessons, scripts and planning guidance
- Word lists, sentences and phonics resources
- Access to the training platform for 12 months
Price excludes any applicable tax, which will be applied at point of invoicing.
Individuals
per person for 12 months
$100 per year thereafter
Includes:
- Train in Sounds-Write in the Early Years
- Lessons, scripts and planning guidance
- Word lists, sentences and phonics resources
- Access to the training platform for 12 months
Price excludes any applicable tax, which will be applied at point of invoicing.
What You'll Learn
Support Language & Physical Development
Understand how literacy links with speech, language, and physical growth in early years and how you can support this.
Understand Sounds-Write Phonics
Gain a solid foundation in the speech-to-print approach and the structure of Sounds-Write.
Build Phonological & Phonemic Awareness
Develop knowledge of phonological and phonemic awareness and their applications in early years settings.
Deliver Scripted, Practical Lessons
Learn how to prepare and implement Sounds-Write lessons, including word building, reading, spelling, and Sound Swap.
Engage Parents and Carers
Equip families with tools to support phonics learning at home.
Check Your Understanding
The course enables you to assess and reinforce your understanding through knowledge checks.
Clarity and Confidence from Day One
We’ll provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to recognise when children are ready for phonics—and build strong foundations for literacy.
– Sounds-Write in the Early Years course participant
Our Early Years Curriculum
The program includes the development of phonological and phonemic awareness through a series of activities we call ‘elements’. Phonological awareness activities, including non-speech sounds, words, syllables, onset/rime, and rhyming, support language development and prepare young learners for phonics. These activities enhance vocabulary, listening skills, and group participation, but research shows awareness of larger speech units isn’t necessary before phonemic awareness.
Phonemic awareness is crucial for reading and spelling in alphabetic systems like English, helping children understand words’ sounds and meanings. Key skills include sound detection, segmenting, blending, and phoneme manipulation. Starting in the early years enhances exposure, improving reading success.
There are 7 elements to be explicitly planned for and taught in early years settings:
- Sound discrimination
- Word awareness
- Rhyme detection
- Rhyme production
- Sound detection
- Segmenting and blending
- Phoneme manipulation
