Phonics
Supersonic Phonic Friends
Supersonic Phonic Friends is a fully systematic synthetic phonic approach. The scheme includes the Firm Foundations in Phonics, The Basics, The Higher Levels ~ Choose to Use Spellings and Switch it Spell Sounds, as well as Key Stage 1 spelling rules. The scheme ensures children develop passion for reading and the confidence to independently apply each skill when reading and writing. They will be highly motivated to ‘read with speed’ and ‘write with all their might!’
The scheme is designed and developed by Anna Lucas, a children's author, a literacy specialist, Phonics' expert and EYFS advisor.
Child friendly characters and illustrations underpin the whole scheme. They are easy to remember with accompanying rhyming phrases that are consistently repeated in every lesson.
The scheme is committed to supporting child-led learning and the idea 'play is the way' in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Every lesson is fun and engaging. The lessons are enriched with movement, a fundamental pre-writing skill and maximum learning connections. Lessons are taught with rhythm and pace, promoting active engagement, making every minute count. The mnemonics and actions promote physical participation and fun.
Supersonic Phonic Friends ensures absolute consistency in the teaching of Phonic stages across EYFS and KS1.
Firm Foundations in Supersonic Phonic Friends is the initial phase of the phonics scheme focused on developing a strong foundation of sound awareness and phonological skills in children. It uses playful, daily activities to build skills in sound discrimination (hearing environmental, instrumental, and body sounds), rhythm and rhyme, alliteration, and oral blending and segmenting, all without the use of flashcards. This phase ensures children have the essential listening and sound-processing skills needed before they begin learning letter-sound relationships in subsequent phases of the program.
The programme has 7 aspects, which gradually build the children’s confidence in listening carefully, hearing sounds, recognising patterns in words and eventually blending and segmenting sounds. The 7 Aspects are taught in order.
🎧 Aspects 1–3: Exploring Sounds
Aspect 1 – Environmental Sounds
Listening to and identifying sounds we hear around us, such as animals, vehicles and sounds in our environment.
Aspect 2 – Instrumental Sounds
Exploring and identifying sounds made by different musical instruments and other objects.
Aspect 3 – Body Percussion
Using our bodies to make sounds, such as clapping, tapping and stamping.
Some of the activities we will enjoy include Listening Len, Describe and Find It, Len Lost in the Jungle, Socks and Shakers, Enlivening Stories, New Words to Old Songs, Matching Sound Makers, Adjust the Volume, Len’s Footsteps and Animal Sounds.
🎵 Aspect 4 – Rhythm and Rhyme
We will have lots of fun listening to and joining in with songs and rhymes, hearing the beat and developing our awareness of rhyming words.
Activities include Learning Songs and Rhymes, Finish the Rhyme, Listen to the Beat, Rex’s Rhyming Soup, Rhyming Bingo, Rhyming Puppets and Odd One Out.
🐍 Aspect 5 – Alliteration and Voice Sounds
We will begin to notice words that start with the same sound and explore the different sounds we can make with our voices.
Activities include Digging for Treasure, Len Goes to the Zoo, Listening Len’s Busy Day, Our Sound Bag/Box, Musical Corners, Silly Soup and Voice Sounds.
🔤 Aspects 6 and 7 – Oral Blending and Segmenting
Later in the year, the children will begin developing their skills in oral blending and segmenting. These are important early skills that will support their reading and writing as they progress through school.
We will use fun activities such as Segmenting Seb, Clapping and Tapping Sounds in Words, Toy Talk, Say the Sounds, I Spy, Which One and Cross the River.
One of our special characters is Listening Len, who reminds us to listen carefully. At the beginning of every phonics session, the children will learn to say:
“Listen with Len, before you pick up a pen!” 👂
Supersonic Phonics Friends: