Learning to read is a central part of our children’s earliest years at school. Those reading skills are hugely important – for children’s wider learning, well-being, and futures. In the UK, reading often starts with phonics. But right now, phonics programmes can be a big challenge for lots of children. They haven’t been given the foundational skills they need to use phonics as they begin to learn to read and write, and so they struggle to keep up.
Our Pre-phonics Boost programme can change that.
Watch this video to learn more about Phonological Awareness and it’s importance from Helen Stringer, Professor of Childhood Speech Sound Disorders and Behaviour Changes from Newcastle University
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An introduction to Speech and Language UK's Pre-Phonics Boost Webinar
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Learners will gain knowledge and skills in how to support children and young people’s speech, language and communication skills and why this is important.
What does the Pre-Phonics Boost programme include?
Pre- phonics Boost is a toolkit that gives children the building blocks they need to support phonics and early reading. The toolkit focuses on phonological awareness skills building on Helen Stringers Newcastle Intervention for Phonological Awareness.
The resource includes:
- baseline assessment tools
- video clips of staff delivering each stage of the programme and an explanation with adaptions if needed
- visual resources
- tracking sheets
Together these resources will give a comprehensive digital training package to support the implementation and delivery of a phonological awareness skills-based programme for children struggling to access synthetic phonics programmes in school.
How does it work?
The toolkit is designed to identify missing skills using a simple baseline assessment. Staff can then deliver targeted support.
Professionals can work through the 11 sections to develop knowledge and skills to deliver the programme. The short films share demonstrations of adults delivering each stage, with explanations and example adaptations. The package is design to be navigate through easily, for training and also to dip in and out of for reference as needed.
Frequently asked questions
1. Q: Do you take a child off the phonics program to do this program?
Q: Is the pre-phonics boost is based on NAPA and NIPA / How does it differ?
Q: If you make adaptations for children with speech differences, should this be supported by child's SLT?
Q: /ow/ or /ea/ are long vowel sounds represented by a digraph (2 letters represent 1 sound). Is this what the programme supports?
A: If, after completing the baseline, they had significant gaps (5+) we would recommend that they just work on the pre-phonics boost. If less than 5 then it can run in parellel
This depends on the settings target group and logistics e.g. staffing/ space etc.
The baseline can be used as screener in reception, or if children are highlighted to be struggling with phonics or reading. It can be used to run alongside a phonics programme. If a child has a lot of gaps in the baseline, it is recommended to work through the programme before the phonics programme. The key to progress is daily input of around 10- 15 minutes.
2. Q: My school uses RWI scheme, is this scheme compatible with RWI sets of letters or is possible to cherry pick through it?
A: The Pre -phonics Boost focuses on auditory (listening) skills before graphemes (letters). Children listen for the sounds but don’t match sounds to letters within the programme.
3. Q: Is there training involved?
A: No training is needed. All the resources, videos and instructions is enough to deliver the programme
No training before hand is needed. All the resources, videos and instructions provide information to deliver the programme.
This resource is designed to equip professionals with the skills to deliver each stage. The video clips give a guide through every stage, with explanations of skills, visual examples and demonstrations with an adult leading a group with children. There are examples of suggested adaptations. There is also a helpful overview of each stage for reference.
4. Q: Are there stages suitable for early years?
A: Yes it can be used with children in early years, some settings choose to use the baseline as a screener as children enter reception.
5. Q: Is this suitable for EAL children?
A: Yes the programme encourages careful listening for sounds within words. The programme is designed to progress in small steps and is repetitive, to embed learning.
6. Q: Do you have support materials that can be used for pre-verbal pupils?
A: This would depend on the preferred communication methods used by each pre-verbal pupil. Please contact for more details, if advice is needed.
Q: Is the pre-phonics boost is based on NAPA and NIPA / How does it differ?
A: Yes the Pre-phonics Boost digitally illustrates the NAPA and NIPA programme. It is designed to be easy to navigate, build familiarity with resources, and be used to dip in and back to the videos for reference.
Q: If you make adaptations for children with speech differences, should this be supported by child's SLT?
A: Yes a specialist SLT would be advised for specific speech differences. A personalised wordlist/approach is often advised by the SLT.
Q: /ow/ or /ea/ are long vowel sounds represented by a digraph (2 letters represent 1 sound). Is this what the programme supports?
A: No this is a skill based within a synthetic phonics programme.
Feedback for the Pre-phonics boost toolkit
"It is the first toolkit that I have seen which addresses the issues of these skills which could be missing from learning."
"So many children need phonological awareness, and it is soooo needed to have an intervention that approaches this in a structured way."
- St. Christopher's Primary School
"So many children need phonological awareness, and it is soooo needed to have an intervention that approaches this in a structured way."
- St. Christopher's Primary School
"The videos are especially helpful - being able to see it in action really helped with the quality of my own delivery."
- Alexandra, Barton Hill Academy
- Alexandra, Barton Hill Academy
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Pre-phonics boost subscription
£480/year including VAT * for 5 licenses
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- Click on order form
- Fill in inquiry order form
- Our team will contact you when the order is processed.
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Unit A The Cube Building
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London
N1 7GT
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Speech and Language UK is the operating name of I CAN Charity, a registered charity in England and Wales (210031) and Scotland (SC039947), which is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (00099629). Registered address: Unit A The Cube Building 17-21 Wenlock Road London N1 7GT
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