About Little Squirrels at Shrawley
Phonics Systems
Understanding Phonics in the Early Years
Phonics is a way of teaching children how to read and write by helping them understand the relationship between sounds and the letters or groups of letters that represent those sounds.
In the early years, phonics learning is most effective when it is introduced in a fun, engaging, and child-led way. This might include listening games, rhymes, singing, and exploring sounds in the environment, which we love to bring to the nursery routine daily, all of which lay the foundations for later reading and writing when they move onto their new venture at school.
Our Approach
In our setting, we do not formally promote structured phonics teaching. We believe that children learn best through play, exploration, and following their own interests. However, if a child begins to show an interest in letters, sounds, or in fact early reading, we will always nurture and support this curiosity in a gentle and age-appropriate way.
Our focus is on creating a language-rich environment where children can develop strong communication skills, as these are the essential skills and building blocks for phonics and future literacy.
Supporting Your Child at Home
It’s important to be aware that different schools use different phonics schemes and approaches. To give your child the best possible start, if they are showing an interest at home, we recommend finding out which phonics system your chosen or potential school uses and following that approach. This helps to provide consistency for your child and can make their transition into school smoother and more confident.