Ages 3-4
Create a firm foundation for literacy
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Next Steps
Consolidate phonics and develop key literacy skills with Rocket Phonics Next Steps for ages 6-7.
Ages 4-6
Equip learners for phonics and wider literacy successGo to SSP
Ages 6-7
Consolidate phonics and develop key literacy skills with Rocket Phonics Next Steps for ages 6-7.
The final step in the Rocket Phonics journey, for pupils aged 6-7.
- Review and extend previous phonics learning to ensure children meet or exceed age-related expectations.
- Equip children with essential literacy skills for the wider curriculum and the transition to upper primary with a focus on phonics for spelling and writing.
- Use the established teaching and learning cycle (Review, Teach, Practise, Apply and Assess) to maintain consistency between year groups.
- Introduce and gradually develop cursive handwriting to support children in becoming confident writers.
- Use exciting fiction and non-fiction reading books to widen vocabulary, build reading stamina and fluency, and nurture a love of reading.
Introduction from the Author
Abigail Steel talks through the print and online resources in Rocket Phonics Next Steps.
Rocket Phonics Next Steps continues the Rocket Phonics journey into Year 2 (age 6-7). Written by expert Abigail Steel, it consolidates phonics and develops key literacy skills.
With a Rocket Phonics Online Next Steps subscription, you can access a library of bitesize CPD videos to support you in delivering the programme. Topics include assessment, handwriting and spelling.
How to teach
Online subscription
Print resources
CPD
- Revisit and review sounds with flashcards. The 111 colour-banded flashcards are ready-to-use interactive online resources with audio.
- Teach spelling alternatives with Big Books. Each Big Book lasts for a term and tells an original story. As a class, you can listen to the story being read aloud, hear sounds and launch flashcards from inside the books.
- Practise with Pupil Practice Booklets. Our daily Booklets help children to consolidate phonics and develop reading fluency and writing skills.
- Apply with Practice Readers. Children will love reading the range of fun fiction and non-fiction books from the Reading Planet Galaxy and Comet Street Kids strands.
- Practise cursive handwriting with Pupil Practice Booklets. The Booklets also provide weekly cursive handwriting practice.
Evidencing the impact of Rocket Phonics
In 2021, we launched an Impact Trial in a select group of UK primary schools. Working with independent evaluators from Nottingham Trent University and the University of Birmingham, the Trial aimed to measure the impact of Rocket Phonics on reading attainment and reading enjoyment in comparison with other schools using other SSP programmes.
Report highlights:
- Pupils using Rocket Phonics, including those starting Year 1 with very low phonics knowledge, saw a rapid and measurable increase in phonics knowledge.
- Despite higher percentages of PP and EAL children in schools using Rocket Phonics, pupils’ attainment was in line with control schools and spelling appeared slightly better, based on average pre- and post-trial standardised test scores.
- Compared with those using other SSP programmes, teachers’ attitudes towards teaching phonics were far more positive amongst Rocket Phonics schools.
- Independent observational evidence indicated that children and teachers enjoyed their phonics lessons, and children engaged well with the Rocket Phonics resources they used.
What teachers are saying...
We love the way that aspects of grammar, spelling and handwriting are interwoven into the scheme.
Louise Johnston, KS1 Lead Cheadle Heath Primary SchoolThe termly overviews are fantastic! It is clear there is sufficient challenge and progression moving forward from Year 1.
Amy Clarke, Deputy Headteacher Newick Church of England Primary SchoolIt gives children secure foundations in reading and spelling in preparation for learning in Key Stage 2. Children who arrive to our school new from other countries have also benefited from the scheme.
Laura Foley, Phonics Lead Woodlands Primary School
In Next Steps, children do not learn any new letter-sounds. Instead, they consolidate their knowledge of sounds by revisiting all the alphabetic code from the previous years. The alphabetic code is revised by grouping it by individual phoneme and looking at the different ways of spelling that sound (an example would be the sound /ai/ which can be spelt in a variety of different ways). In Next Steps, we introduce cursive handwriting and explicitly cover National Curriculum spelling requirements.
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