Sounds-Write School Accreditation Programme
The Sounds-Write schools accreditation programme is a community of schools with a shared vision to improve the life chances of children by ensuring that they become proficient readers and writers.
About our Accredited Schools
Every school undergoes a biennial audit to demonstrate their commitment to continuously improving their Sounds-Write teaching practice.
There are two accreditation tiers schools can achieve, silver and gold:
– Silver Schools have been teaching Sounds-Write for at least a year and have completed a self-audit of the practice in their schools to demonstrate the Silver Award objectives.
– Gold Schools have been Silver Schools for at least 2 years and have provided additional evidence to show that they are teaching Sounds-Write to a very high standard. Gold schools host events throughout the year to showcase Sounds-Write practice to visitors.
Find a Sounds-Write Accredited School
Search our interactive map to locate a school in your area.
Become a Sounds-Write Accredited School
Are you implementing Sounds-Write with fidelity? Join our network of accredited schools dedicated to achieving high standards in phonics teaching. By becoming a Sounds-Write accredited school, you’ll model best practices and support schools new to Sounds-Write.
Benefits include:
– Termly online networking meetings to keep you up to date with new resources, courses and our initiatives
– A marketing toolkit to share your news with stakeholders and parents
– Opportunities to take part in case studies and research projects
– A silver or gold badge for your school website
– For gold schools, exclusive discounts and offers
Download The Pathway to Silver and Gold information sheet for a full list of benefits.
How to apply
1. Download the Pathway to Silver and Gold Document to find out all about the School Accreditation Programme
2. Download the self-audit to read the criteria to determine whether you meet the criteria
3. Complete the self-audit form and email it to schoolaccreditation@sounds-write.com
If you have been invited to apply to the School Accreditation Programme, please apply before the 28th February 2025.
If you are not part of the pilot and want to apply, submit your application by the 22nd April 2025.
You may also like
Speech-to-print with Nora Chahbazi and John Walker
Nora is the founder of EBLI, and John is the founder of our very own phonics approach, Sounds-Write. John and Nora discussed their strikingly similar backgrounds in the worlds of phonics, the similarities and differences between their approaches and, of course, speech to print.
Moving Away from Decodable Readers
For students who are just beginning to learn to read, it is imperative that they practise reading with books that are consistent with their developing knowledge of the code and how the code works. These are often known as ‘phonically controlled texts’ or ‘decodable readers’.
Advice for New Sounds-Write Schools
In January 2023, Laura Walker, Sounds-Write Content Manager, spoke with Caroline Hardisty, one of Sounds-Write’s in-house trainers, for an episode of The Sounds-Write Podcast. Caroline gave advice for new Sounds-Write Practitioners, who are just beginning their Sounds-Write journeys.