Some children in Whitby 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 Whitby, 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 Whitby 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.
Supporting Learning at Home
Phonics practice at home makes a big difference, but many parents in Whitby aren't sure how to help effectively. Our tutors provide simple, practical suggestions for daily practice — reading together, playing sound games, using phonics apps — that reinforce what's being covered in sessions without turning home into a classroom.
Our phonics tutors in Whitby are experienced with early years education and understand how to work with young children — keeping sessions short, positive, and focused. Most families start with two 30-minute sessions per week. Contact us to discuss your child's needs.