Phonics is fantastic... but

Phonics is great! As a Year 1 teacher I love teaching phonics and I'm successful at it. I find the lessons fun to plan and think the short 30 minute fast paced format keeps the lesson engaging for children.

It is a really successful way of teaching children to read. Breaking down words into sounds (phonemes) and how they are written (graphemes) and teaching children to break down words into little pieces.

I teach using letters and sounds and find the lessons well planned out.

I also like the app and program Monster Phonics

However, what happens when phonics doesn't work?

Every teacher I have talked to has said if phonics doesn't work they just keep on teaching phonics. No other method is even mentioned.

We need to try other methods when phonics doesn't work for every child

• Orton-Gillingham Approach

• Morphology

Tammy Campbell from the Director for Early Years, Inequalities and Wellbeing, Education Policy Institute published this report finding phonics has done nothing to improve reading in schools. Instead of pushing phonics phonics phonics she argues the Department of Education should:

• Stakeholder Engagement: Involve educators, parents, and literacy experts in the review process to gather diverse perspectives on the effectiveness of the PSC.

• Assessment of Alternative Approaches: Explore and compare other reading interventions and methodologies that may offer more effective outcomes than the current PSC.

• Focus on Diverse Learner Needs: Ensure that the review considers the effectiveness of the PSC for various groups of learners, including those with special educational needs and English as an additional language.

Yet currently nothing is changing, and we are pressuring children with assessment as young a five years old. Children are falling out of love with education at five! This is unacceptable.