It's a Phonics-versary! Twinkl Phonics celebrates the second-year anniversary of DfE validation

Two years have passed since Twinkl Phonics, the systematic synthetic whole-school phonics programme, earned approval from the Department of Education, solidifying its position as a reliable force in phonics education.

In May 2021, the government removed the 'Letters and Sounds' handbook from its list of validated phonics programmes, prompting schools to choose an approved systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programme. Twinkl Phonics quickly gained trust within the education community, offering a dependable and effective solution.

Phonics, a highly effective method for teaching word reading, proves essential for equipping children with skills to tackle new words. Research highlights the effectiveness of structured phonics teaching, progressing from the easiest sounds to the most complex, in teaching young children to read.

Recent Department of Education statistics reveal a commendable increase, with 79% of five- and six-year-olds meeting the expected standard, up from 75% the previous year.

"We've been hosting phonics resources at Twinkl since the very early days but the SSP programme is something that is really close to our hearts. We wanted to make something teachers could rely on for their daily lessons, that would engage learners and most importantly, get children reading and writing with confidence. Becoming validated by the DfE was a huge milestone for our phonics team and we are incredibly proud to help those who teach phonics every day," explains Simon Lambert, Product Owner, Twinkl Phonics.

Twinkl Phonics, an innovative whole-school, ready-to-teach SSP programme, stands approved by the DfE and enjoys endorsements from schools while being highly recommended by teachers. Offering six levels of meticulously designed lesson packs, Twinkl Phonics infuses joy into phonics learning and guides children towards fluency. Rhino Readers, an integral part of Twinkl Phonics, is a fully decodable reading scheme encompassing fiction and nonfiction books. Aligned seamlessly with the phonics programme, Rhino Readers aims to empower children with enduring reading skills, ensuring a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. The Rhino Readers books are available as eBooks, via a mobile app, and as sturdy paper copies to purchase. 'We knew that any decodable books supporting the Twinkl Phonics scheme would need to be perfectly matched to the teaching and just as high quality,' explains Jo Basher, Rhino Readers Product Owner. "So in every Rhino Readers title, you'll find not only solid phonics and clear progression, but all the magic of a well-written story as well."

In just two years, Twinkl Phonics has established itself as an innovative SSP programme, introducing a diverse array of new products, with more innovations in the pipeline. This milestone underscores the programme's dedication to evolving and enhancing the educational landscape.

'"The children are enjoying Twinkl phonics and staff also like the structure of the lessons - they are thorough and move on well - also providing revision and time to practise skills," says Sudbury Primary School of their experience.

"We are very happy indeed with the progress and data we are getting with Twinkl Phonics!" says Thurton Primary School.

As Twinkl Phonics celebrates its second anniversary of DfE validation, the programme remains committed to providing high-quality phonics education, shaping the future of young learners and contributing to a generation of proficient readers.

For more information, visit Twinkl Phonics here.

Twinkl
Wards Exchange
197 Ecclesall Road
Sheffield, S11 8HW, UK

media@twinkl.co.uk or call 0114 360 0225

About Twinkl
Twinkl was founded in 2010 in Sheffield by husband and wife Jonathan and Susie Seaton, with a mission 'to help those who teach'.

The company provides high quality, online learning materials and services, which are all teacher-created and checked.

Twinkl offers over one million resources, with new content added daily. This ranges from schemes of work and assessments to augmented reality games and much more.

Twinkl is used and trusted by schools and educators in over 200 countries and regions, including primary and secondary school teachers, nursery workers and parents.

Twinkl has over 1500 team members based in its two Sheffield offices and remotely around the globe. More information about Twinkl can be found on our About Us page.

This release was published on openPR.