Free checks for children who have had more than six months of phonics instruction and are still finding reading or spelling difficult.

Why is my child struggling with phonics in Reception or Year 1?

If your child is in Reception or Year 1 and still finding phonics difficult, you are not alone. Many parents worry that a child who is not reading or spelling with ease might have a learning difficulty or difference. In reality, it may simply be that the way they are being taught does not match how their brain learns best. The chance to choose a book they want to read, and to be able to read it, even if we have to map the words for them at first, is both joyful and empowering. Every child deserves that experience, and 'Miss Emma' knows how to make it happen. She is supporting parents and training teachers to be Dyslexia Whisperers!

In England, synthetic phonics is mandated, and teachers are told by the Department for Education that “A complete programme is one that provides all that is essential to teach SSP to children in the Reception and Key Stage 1 years of mainstream primary schools, up to or beyond the standards expected by the national curriculum, and provides sufficient support for them to become fluent readers.” Source. The truth is that since 2013, around 1 in 4 children have continued to struggle with reading under this system. Data from the comprehension checks introduced in 2016, designed for eleven-year-olds, confirm that 1 in 4 consistently fails. Teachers are being told that this is likely because a child has dyslexia, or because parents and teachers are not following the SSP programme with fidelity. The problem lies in the way phonics is being taught. Phonics is a way of ensuring that children can connect letters and sounds for all words. SSP programmes are supposed to kick-start that process, with a Core Code so that children can discover the whole code.

If your child is one of the 1 in 4, in a country where no one is questioning whether the tools themselves are faulty, they are likely to be given more of the same programme in small groups after failing the Phonics Screening Check. We can stop this cycle and actually give children what they need. You can be part of the much-needed change. Your child’s teacher probably has their hands tied and must continue delivering the synthetic phonics programme, or they may simply lack the information and tools to adapt. Most teachers genuinely want to help. The best way to support them in supporting your child is to understand what has been missing and share that knowledge.

We hope that Reception teachers use the Speech Sound Play Plan before starting their programme, as this will help them to identify the 1 in 4 and begin embracing prevention. They can still use their chosen SSP programme, but with a greater understanding of what to add to it, and how to provide better support for the 1 in 4 throughout the school day, beyond the synthetic phonics lessons.

Our free checks will help you find out whether your child’s struggles come from the way they are being taught, and we will guide you through the next steps. We will show you what to do at home in ways your child will enjoy, while helping you become more attuned to how their brain is operating. If you use these early we can avoid them being that1 in 4. We invite you to join the Parent Hub

Miss Emma
– Dyslexia Expert, Innovate UK Winner, Champion for Unlocking Potential

Coming Here Soon: Free screening for children in Reception and Year 1.

Use this as a starting point. If you video your child doing the check and send it to me, I can tell you what’s missing and where to start. I can do a limited number of these for free (it takes a lot of time to analyse and send you the “what next?”), so please do sign up to the Parent Hub and let me know that you’re interested.

Is your child older? Year 2 and up? Start here!

Miss Emma
The Screenie Queenie!
Learning is diverse, testing should be too.