Phonics is how most children in the UK learn to read, and it works. But not every child picks it up at the same pace. Parents in Chichester often come to us when their child is falling behind in Reception or Year 1 phonics, or when the Year 1 phonics screening check is approaching and they're worried. Our phonics tutors work with young children using systematic, structured methods that build confidence alongside skill.
The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
Every child in England sits a phonics screening check in Year 1. For parents in Chichester, 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.
Blending and Segmenting
Blending (pushing sounds together to read a word) and segmenting (breaking a word into its individual sounds to spell it) are the two core phonics skills. Children in Chichester who struggle with these need lots of practice with immediate feedback — exactly what a one-to-one session provides. Our tutors use magnetic letters, sound cards, and phonics games to make this practice engaging.
Building Reading Fluency
Once a child can decode individual words, the next step is reading sentences and then stories fluently. Children in Chichester 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.
Early reading difficulties in Chichester 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.