Phonics
After the ABC song: a first step toward blending
Notice the difference between a letter name and a letter sound, then work with familiar sounds.
Two different questions
“What is this letter called?” and “What sound does it represent in this word?” are different questions. Singing the alphabet does not automatically mean a child can blend a word.
Start with known sounds
Choose sounds your child has already encountered. Use a reliable model and avoid adding an extra vowel after a short consonant. If you are unsure, listen to a course recording together first.
Bring sounds back to a word
Once the relevant sounds are familiar, use a word such as “cat”: listen to the sounds, blend them, then connect the word with its meaning. Sound practice and vocabulary can support each other.
Make the next step smaller
If recognising letters is easy but blending is difficult, reduce how much your child needs to handle at once and model again. Choose the task by their starting point, rather than age or another child’s progress.
Check the course scope
Little English Phonics is a structured four-level programme: the alphabet and letter sounds, vowels, consonants, then long vowels and other common sounds. This progression connects phonics, vocabulary and reading preparation. The programme page links to the app for each level.