Jolly Phonics Teacher's Guide

English has around 44 sounds, but only 26 letters to represent them. Many sounds can be written in multiple ways, sometimes using two, three or even four letters. In Jolly Phonics Step 1, pupils learn the main letter sounds, laying the foundation for reading and writing. This includes one way to represent each sound, with the /c k/ sound taught using both ‹c› and ‹k›. Teaching just one spelling per sound at first keeps learning manageable and helps pupils focus on hearing and recognising each sound clearly. This early focus builds confidence and prepares children for more complex spelling patterns introduced in later steps.

The sound order is designed to boost blending, prevent letter confusion and support early handwriting.

• Sounds are taught in seven groups, beginning with: s, a, t, i, p, n – chosen for high word-blending potential (e.g. sat, pin, tip).
• Letters that are often confused (e.g. ‹b› and ‹d›) are introduced in separate groups.
• ‹c› is introduced early as its shape supports other letter formations like ‹a›, ‹d›, and ‹o›.

Each letter sound is introduced through a story, an action, pictures and a song. Pupils engage multiple senses – listening, seeing, speaking and movement – which supports long-term memory and makes the learning more meaningful. This multisensory approach allows children to connect with the sound in different ways, helping them remember it more easily and use it more confidently. Using actions and storytelling makes learning fun and relevant, while also embedding the sound more deeply in both memory and understanding. Repetition through songs and daily practice helps secure each sound before moving on to the next.

• Flashcards: Daily use helps with instant recall. Shuffle to avoid memorising the order.
• Sound Books: Sent home and used at school for regular review and tracking progress.
• Jolly Songs: Catchy tunes linked to each sound make learning joyful and memorable.
• Classroom Games: ‘Hunt the letter’ and corner-run games support kinaesthetic learning.
• Wall Frieze: A visual classroom tool that reinforces sound-symbol links.

Once initial 42 letter sounds are secure, Jolly Phonics starts to introduce alternative spellings. These are introduced in Step 2 and revisited in Step 3 and support wider reading of decodable text. Secure knowledge of these options, together with lots of practice reading words, helps pupils make better choices later, when they are learning to spell more accurately.

In Step 1, focusing on letter sounds is important for successful blending and segmenting. Later, letter names need to be taught to help pupils develop pre-dictionary skills. This happens in Step 2, when pupils are taught the alphabet in four colour-coded sections and learn to identify alphabetical order, aiding dictionary and word list use later on.

Regular observation and quick daily check-ins help identify pupils who may be struggling to retain or recall letter sounds. Early support prevents small gaps from widening and ensures all children can move forward confidently. Targeted strategies during whole-class, small-group or one-to-one time can make a big difference.

• Watch for speed and confidence during flashcard or action routines.
• Use small group time for those who copy others or hesitate.
• Over time ask pupils to say the letter sounds without actions - you could encourage them to sit on their hands, for example.
• Celebrate progress with visual rewards like stickers or stars.
• Use our digital assessment tool for an easy, efficient way to track progress and identify gaps across the class.