Teaching phonics in Year 1 is one of the most important steps in helping children become confident readers and writers. At this stage, students are moving beyond recognising letters and beginning to understand how sounds work together to make words. Phonics gives them the tools to decode unfamiliar words instead of guessing from pictures or memory.

A strong phonics lesson should be clear, short and practical. Young students learn best when they can hear, say, see and use the sound. For example, when teaching the sound “sh”, students should listen to the sound, practise saying it, identify it in words like ship, shop and fish, and then read and write simple words containing that sound. This helps them connect spoken language with written language.
Repetition matters. Human brains, apparently unsatisfied with learning things once, need regular practice. Daily phonics routines help students build automatic recognition of sounds and spelling patterns. Activities such as sound sorting, blending games, word building with letter cards, and reading decodable texts can make practice more engaging.

Blending is especially important in Year 1. Students need to practise saying each sound in a word and then pushing the sounds together. For example, c-a-t becomes cat. Segmenting is the reverse skill: students hear a word and break it into sounds before spelling it.

It is also important to use decodable readers that match the phonics sounds students have already learned. This lets children experience success because they are using skills they have been taught, not just guessing wildly and hoping literacy happens by accident. With explicit teaching, consistent practice and encouraging feedback, Year 1 students can develop strong phonics knowledge. These early skills create the foundation for fluent reading, accurate spelling and greater confidence across all learning areas.

Anthea Preketes