Some children in Yarm 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 Yarm, 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 Yarm 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.
Supporting Learning at Home
Phonics practice at home makes a big difference, but many parents in Yarm 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 Yarm 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.