PhonicsFoundation level

English Phonics Foundation

From hearing sounds to reading real sentences.

Learners learn to hear the sounds in words, link each sound to its letters, blend sounds to read and break words into sounds to spell. By the end they read short sentences and simple stories on their own.

Grades
Pre-primary, 1-2
Age
4-6
Focus
Early literacy
Length
24 classes · 8 weeks
Enroll Now See the course map
Image to addA young learner pointing at letters on a screen and saying the sound with a big smile4:3
  • Live onlineReal-time classes with the instructor
  • 3 classes a weekThree times a week, live
  • 60 minutesEach class

Is this the right level?

A good fit if your learner...

  • Is 4 to 6 years old, or in pre-primary to Grade 2
  • Knows some English words but cannot yet read them
  • Mixes up letter names and letter sounds
  • Guesses words from pictures instead of sounding them out

Not sure which level fits? Tell us your learner's age and how they use English now, and we will help you choose.

Where this course leads

  1. 1This coursePre-primary, Grades 1-2 · Age 4-6 · Early literacyYou are here
  2. 2Next: GrammarGrades 1-2 · Age 6-7 · Pre A1 to A1
  3. 3Next: SpeakingGrades 1-2 · Age 6-7 · Pre A1 to A1

Builds the sound and letter knowledge that reading in English depends on, before formal grammar.

The course map

What your learner will learn, module by module

24 live classes over 8 weeks, three a week. The course has 6 modules of 4 classes each. Every module practises listening, speaking, reading and writing, and ends with a project.

Module 1 of 6 Classes 1-4

Listening for Sounds

Learners tune their ears to sounds before they meet letters.

Sounds and skills

  • Rhythm and rhyme
  • First sounds in words
  • Oral blending (c-a-t to cat)
  • Oral segmenting

Example words

Sounds around us, animals, body parts

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningSound hunt with pictures on screen
  • SpeakingRhyming chants and action songs
  • ReadingMatching pictures that start with the same sound
  • WritingPencil grip, patterns and tracing lines
  1. Class 1Meet the new sounds
  2. Class 2Blend and read
  3. Class 3Write and spell
  4. Class 4Read together and share

Module projectA sound treasure hunt at home, shared in class

Module 2 of 6 Classes 5-8

First Letter Sounds

Learners connect the first group of sounds to letters and start blending.

Sounds and skills

  • s a t p i n m d
  • Blending three-sound words
  • Tricky words: I, the

Example words

sat, pin, mat, dad, sit, tap

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningPick the right picture for a blended word
  • SpeakingSay the sound with its action
  • ReadingRead three-sound words on cards
  • WritingForm each new letter and build words with letter tiles
  1. Class 5Meet the new sounds
  2. Class 6Blend and read
  3. Class 7Write and spell
  4. Class 8Read together and share

Module projectMy first word book

Module 3 of 6 Classes 9-12

More Sounds, More Words

Learners read and spell many more short words.

Sounds and skills

  • g o c k ck e u r
  • h b f l ss ff ll
  • Reading captions

Example words

dog, cup, red, kick, bus, bell

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningSound spotting in a short story
  • SpeakingDescribe a picture using decodable words
  • ReadingRead short captions such as "a big red bus"
  • WritingSpell short words by saying each sound
  1. Class 9Meet the new sounds
  2. Class 10Blend and read
  3. Class 11Write and spell
  4. Class 12Read together and share

Module projectLabel a picture of my room

Module 4 of 6 Classes 13-16

Two Letters, One Sound

Learners learn that two letters can make one sound.

Sounds and skills

  • ch sh th ng
  • ai ee igh oa oo
  • Tricky words: he, she, we, me, be

Example words

ship, chip, ring, rain, tree, night, boat, moon

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningWhich word do you hear? (ship or chip)
  • SpeakingTongue twisters with the new sounds
  • ReadingRead words and short phrases with digraphs
  • WritingWrite words with two-letter sounds from dictation
  1. Class 13Meet the new sounds
  2. Class 14Blend and read
  3. Class 15Write and spell
  4. Class 16Read together and share

Module projectA night sky picture with labels

Module 5 of 6 Classes 17-20

Longer Words and Sentences

Learners blend consonants that sit together and read full sentences.

Sounds and skills

  • Adjacent consonants (frog, stamp)
  • ar or ur ow oi er
  • Capital letters and full stops

Example words

frog, milk, star, fork, cow, coin

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningFollow spoken instructions with new words
  • SpeakingRead a sentence aloud with expression
  • ReadingRead short sentences and answer simple questions
  • WritingWrite one sentence about a picture
  1. Class 17Meet the new sounds
  2. Class 18Blend and read
  3. Class 19Write and spell
  4. Class 20Read together and share

Module projectMy sentence strip story

Module 6 of 6 Classes 21-24

Reading with Confidence

Learners read simple stories and write a few sentences on their own.

Sounds and skills

  • Different spellings of the same sound (ay, a-e)
  • Reading fluency
  • More tricky words

Example words

play, cake, sea, bike, home

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningListen to a story and order the pictures
  • SpeakingRetell the story in their own words
  • ReadingRead a decodable story with a partner
  • WritingWrite two or three sentences about the story
  1. Class 21Meet the new sounds
  2. Class 22Blend and read
  3. Class 23Write and spell
  4. Class 24Read together and share

Module projectRead a short story to the class

Outcomes

By the end of the course, your learner can...

Clear goals in all four skills, written so you can notice them at home as well as in class.

Listening

  • Hears the first, middle and last sound in a short word
  • Hears when two words rhyme

Speaking

  • Says each taught sound clearly, using pure sounds
  • Retells a short picture story in simple sentences

Reading

  • Blends sounds to read new short words without guessing
  • Reads short sentences and simple decodable stories

Writing

  • Forms letters correctly, starting in the right place
  • Writes a short sentence using sounds, a capital letter and a full stop
Image to addA young learner tracing a letter in the air while the instructor shows the same letter on screen4:5

Between classes

About 10 minutes a day of sound and word practice from the PDF pack, ideally with a family member listening.

Inside a class

What happens in 60 minutes

  1. 5 minHello and sound reviewA greeting song, then quick flash cards of the sounds learned so far.
  2. 10 minMeet a new soundA short story, an action and a picture for the new sound, so it is remembered in more than one way.
  3. 10 minMove and playA sound hunt or a stand-up game. Young learners need to move to keep learning.
  4. 15 minBlend and readSounding out and blending words together, then reading them on screen.
  5. 10 minBuild and writeForming the letter correctly and building words from sounds.
  6. 10 minRead together and goodbyeReading a short caption or sentence, then a recap of today's sound.

For parents

How you will know your learner is progressing

  1. 1Feedback in every classThe instructor listens, notices where your learner needs help and gives support straight away.
  2. 2A project in every moduleEach module ends with a project, such as a poster, a story or a short talk, that shows what your learner can now do with the language.
  3. 3Monthly parent meetingEvery month you meet the instructor to talk about progress, strengths and what to practise at home.
  4. 4Advice at the end of the courseWhen the 24 classes finish, we talk with you about whether to continue at the same level or move up.
Image to addAn instructor talking with a parent on a video call, with the learner's work shown on screen16:9

What you receive

  • PDF learning materialsLesson materials and home practice for every module.
  • Class recordingsRecordings to revisit a lesson or catch up after a missed class.
  • Monthly parent meetingA regular meeting with the instructor about your learner's progress.
  • Clear next stepsAdvice on what to practise and when your learner is ready for the next level.

How this course is designed

Built on international levels and learning research

The sound order follows the systematic phonics sequence widely used in UK primary schools: first single sounds, then two-letter sounds, then blending consonants together, then different spellings of the same sound. The pace is adjusted for young learners who are learning English as an additional language.

Reference: Oxford Owl: What is Letters and Sounds?

Read how we teach
  • Practice that brings learning backWe regularly ask learners to recall earlier language instead of only re-reading it, and we return to it across the course. Research on memory supports both retrieval practice and spacing.Source: Roediger & Karpicke (2006) Cepeda et al. (2006)
  • Support that is taken away step by stepNew language is first modelled and supported, then learners do more on their own. This idea of scaffolding comes from research on how adults help young learners solve problems.Source: Wood, Bruner & Ross (1976)
  • A balance of input, output and fluencyEvery module includes listening and reading, speaking and writing, focused language study and fluency practice, following Paul Nation's four strands.Source: Nation (2007), The Four Strands

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Something else on your mind? Message us and we will reply.

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How long is the course?

The course has 24 live classes over 8 weeks, three a week, and each class is 60 minutes. There are 6 modules and each module takes 4 classes. At the end we talk with you about whether your learner should continue at the same level or move up.

My learner already knows the alphabet song. Is this course still useful?

Yes. Knowing letter names is a good start, but reading needs letter sounds. This course teaches the sounds and how to blend them, which is the step that turns knowing letters into reading words.

Is 60 minutes too long for a young learner?

Each class is broken into short activities of about 5 to 15 minutes, with a movement break and games built in. Young learners are not asked to sit and listen for long stretches.

How can I help at home if my own English is not confident?

You can still help. The PDF pack shows each sound with a picture. Asking your learner to teach you the sounds is one of the most useful things you can do.

What if my learner misses a class?

Every class is recorded, so your learner can watch it and complete the home practice before the next class. If something is unclear, the instructor can help at the start of the next class.

What do we need at home?

A laptop or tablet with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, a quiet place to sit, and a notebook and pencil. All learning materials are shared as PDFs.

How do I enroll?

Use the Enroll Now page to send your learner's details. We will contact you to confirm the batch, the class times and the next steps.

Ready to start English Phonics Foundation?

Send us your learner's details and we will help you choose the right batch and class times.

Enroll Now See plans and fees

What comes next

After phonics, learners are ready for the Basic level of the English Grammar Course or the English Speaking Course.

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