Systematic Synthetic Phonics

Having a well thought out and structured phonics scheme to follow has allowed us, as a school, to really focus on the teaching input and encourage that secure progression from all of our children through EYFS and into Year 2. Rocket Phonics has hooked all of our children and has aided in our PSC score of 90% for this year.

Ever since starting Rocket Phonics, our Phonics Screening Test results have improved. Last year we saw an incredible 90% of children pass, this year we achieved an outstanding 100% of pupils gaining the required pass mark… The scheme has given the teachers in our school the ability to confidently deliver phonics lessons that are both time manageable and engaging.

85% pass rate in Year 1. Above our expectations with the level of SEND and the number of children who have joined us during the year. 100% pass rate in Year 2 retakes which speaks to the success of the programme long term.

The PSC for Year 1 is 86%. We are very happy with the outcome. The implementation and impact of Rocket Phonics has enabled our Year 1 pupils to make phenomenal progress this year… As the pupils have become more proficient readers, their self-esteem has grown and fostered a positive attitude towards learning. This is reflective not just of pupils in Year 1 but of pupils in Nursery, Reception and Year 2 where we also use the Rocket Phonics programme.

Rocket Phonics First Steps works. Across the research sample, all participants, including SLT and nursery practitioners, said that they could see an impact on children’s progress and development across a range of areas. “We’ve seen the benefit on children’s acquisition of phonics sounds and how they’re learning and retaining those, developing phoneme grapheme correspondence which means they’re readier to start a formal programme [in Reception]”.

The structure and progression mean that practitioners can identify children who are struggling with a sound and quickly put in place additional support. “…the order of the speech sounds … follows their development which helps their communication and language. I’ve seen an impact already with children who need support around the pronunciations of those sounds.”

Compared with children who were joining Reception from settings which had not used it, pupils who had followed Rocket Phonics First Steps were more secure in their learning, and familiar with the routine of a structured daily phonics session. “[Colleagues in Reception] said they could see a huge difference in those children that had done it the year before in comparison to those that come in from external nurseries that had never done it before.”

Adopting Rocket Phonics First Steps has boosted staff confidence through the provision of practical training and easy-to-use resources. The daily lesson plans provide clear step-by-step support, and the consistent structure makes it easy to embed it into their provision. “We have that confidence – we’re doing this in nursery and we know what we’re doing.”

Rocket Phonics First Steps is more than just a phonics programme: it is based on an holistic approach to developing speech and language. “We love the fact it’s a phonics programme and language programme combined… it’s your vocab, it’s your writing, your understanding, your comprehension, it’s all the [elements]. They all draw together.”