Phonics, what's all the fuss about? Well to start with there's the ongoing debate between those who love it and those who don't - 'The Reading Wars'. All that hot air about over-reliance on one strategy; all those high frequency words that aren't phonically regular; oh and all those opinions about nonsense words. A quick Google search about phonics can open up a regular kan of wurms on this topic. The incredible thing is, when we wend our way round our schools this isn't the part of phonics that gets educators steamy under the collar.

Phonics should be taught systematically and at pace. Whichever phase or section of your school’s phonics programme you are teaching you need to be aware of the assessment requirements and the amount of time allowed for getting children to that point.