Some children in Bolton take to phonics naturally — they blend sounds, read words, and progress through the phases without much difficulty. Others need more practice, more repetition, and more one-to-one attention than a classroom can provide. That's where our phonics tutors come in: patient, specialist support that meets your child exactly where they are.
The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
Every child in England sits a phonics screening check in Year 1. For parents in Bolton, this can feel high-pressure, but it's really just a measure of whether a child can decode words using phonics. Our tutors prepare children for this check by practising with real words and pseudo-words (made-up words that test pure decoding), so children feel confident and familiar with the format.
Building Reading Fluency
Once a child can decode individual words, the next step is reading sentences and then stories fluently. Children in Bolton who can sound out words but read very slowly often lose track of meaning. Our tutors work on building reading speed and expression through repeated reading of decodable books matched to your child's current phonics stage.
When Phonics Isn't Clicking
Some children in Bolton need a different approach — more visual cues, more multi-sensory activities, or more repetition than a typical phonics programme provides. Our tutors assess where the breakdown is happening and adjust their methods accordingly. For children with suspected dyslexia, we can recommend appropriate next steps alongside providing phonics support.
Early reading difficulties in Bolton don't have to become long-term problems. The sooner a child gets the right support, the faster they catch up. Get in touch to arrange an initial assessment and find out how our phonics tutors can help your child.