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What is Phonics? | Understanding Phonics

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The Power of Pausing - Child Language Development

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Staffordshire Libraries - Nonsense Poems from Liz at Burton Library

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Book Chat: Reading with your Child - Reading for Pleasure

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This resource comprises three short films and support materials to help parents, families and carers read books conversationally and creatively to children. Working with Macmillan Children's Books, the films use a selection of their picture books and a poetry collection to support families with reading to different ages of children.

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View our full range of Nessy apps, available for Apple and Android devices.

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Winner of the Education Resources Award

About the App

Learn the letters of the alphabet and how to blend first words. Trace the letter shape onscreen with your finger. For kids ages 4-6 years.

You'll play games to reinforce learning and build letters into simple words, as the Hairy characters and memorable animations make a fun and engaging introduction to literacy.

"My 5 year old, 4 year old and 2 year old are now running around the house like the ant on your App. They are having a blast and love it."

- Gary, Parent

What it includes

Form each letter shape with your finger.

Play games to blend letter sounds into first words.

Learn lower and upper case letter names.

Multi-sensory learning designed by specialist teachers.

Letter sounds are introduced in six colour-coded stages:

Each stage has its own game, using the letters you have learnt to build sounds into words.

Games progress from three letter words to four and five letter words eg. cat, drum, sting.

Multi-sensory learning is more effective by linking images to sounds and actions.

Reviews
"My 3 year old absolutely loves this app. It gives her the opportunity to practise writing letters as well as the phonetic sounds. It is also a good introduction to spelling her first words. Best of all she does it all whilst having fun! Highly recommended. 5 stars"

"Great app, my 3 year old loves it! Well designed app for little ones learning their letters. Progresses in difficulty at just the right pace."

"Absolutely brilliant way to get my 3 year old engaged in writing her letters - really marvellous. Why didn't we know about this before!"

"By far the best app for teaching letters and sounds I have come across."

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Winner of the Education Resources Award Learn the letters of the alphabet and how to blend first words. Trace the letter shape onscreen with your finger. For kids ages 4-6 years. You'll play games to reinforce learning and build letters into simple words, as the Hairy characters and memorable animations make a fun and engaging introduction to literacy.

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Fun ways to help your child spell tricky words

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Here are some ways to help your child learn the spelling of tricky words at home Most children have difficulty spelling some common words, such as ‘does’, ‘your’, ‘because’. Top tip – whichever met

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Follow this advice to help primary-aged children read at home. There's further resources available online at Online education resources: English resources.

1. Encourage your child to read

Reading helps your child's wellbeing, develops imagination and has educational benefits too. Just a few minutes a day can have a big impact on children of all ages.

2. Read aloud regularly

Try to read to your child every day. It's a special time to snuggle up and enjoy a story. Stories matter and children love re-reading them and poring over the pictures. Try adding funny voices to bring characters to life.

3. Encourage reading choice

Give children lots of opportunities to read different things in their own time - it doesn't just have to be books. There's fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics, magazines, recipes and much more. Try leaving interesting reading material in different places around the home and see who picks it up.

4. Read together

Choose a favourite time to read together as a family and enjoy it. This might be everyone reading the same book together, reading different things at the same time, or getting your children to read to each other. This time spent reading together can be relaxing for all.

5. Create a comfortable environment

Make a calm, comfortable place for your family to relax and read independently - or together.

6. Make use of your local library

Libraries in England are able to open from 4 July, so visit them when you're able to and explore all sorts of reading ideas. Local libraries also offer brilliant online materials, including audiobooks and ebooks to borrow. See Libraries Connected for more digital library services and resources.

7. Talk about books

This is a great way to make connections, develop understanding and make reading even more enjoyable. Start by discussing the front cover and talking about what it reveals and suggests the book could be about. Then talk about what you've been reading and share ideas. You could discuss something that happened that surprised you, or something new that you found out. You could talk about how the book makes you feel and whether it reminds you of anything.

8. Bring reading to life

You could try cooking a recipe you've read together. Would you recommend it to a friend? Alternatively, play a game where you pretend to be the characters in a book, or discuss an interesting article you've read.

9. Make reading active

Play games that involve making connections between pictures, objects and words, such as reading about an object and finding similar things in your home. You could organise treasure hunts related to what you're reading. Try creating your child's very own book by using photos from your day and adding captions.

10. Engage your child in reading in a way that suits them

You know your child best and you'll know the best times for your child to read. If they have special educational needs and disabilities ( SEND) then short, creative activities may be the way to get them most interested. If English is an additional language, encourage reading in a child's first language, as well as in English. What matters most is that they enjoy it.

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10 top tips for parents to support children to read

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Follow this advice to help primary-aged children read at home. There's further resources available online at Online education resources: English resources. Reading helps your child's wellbeing, develops imagination and has educational benefits too. Just a few minutes a day can have a big impact on children of all ages.

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Julia Donaldson's top reading tips | Oxford Owl

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Top Tips For Reading To Children - Author Neil Griffiths - ELC

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How Read Write Inc. Phonics works - a parent/carer’s guide

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Welcome to the Read Write Inc. page on Oxford Owl for Home.

Read Write Inc. is a popular phonics scheme. Like all phonics schemes, it teaches children the sounds in English, the letters that represent them, and how to form the letters when writing. Read Write Inc. Phonics includes reading books written using only the letters they have learnt at each level (and a small number of separately taught tricky words). The children will quickly feel confident and successful.

Here you can find lots of free resources to support your child's learning.

Free eBooks | Videos | Set 1 resources | Set 2 resources | Set 3 resources | Kits and flashcards to use at home

Read Write Inc. Phonics

We have lots of free Read Write Inc. Phonics resources to help your child, including eBooks, practice sheets and parent films. We suggest you start by watching this film for parents: What is Read Write Inc. Phonics?

Speed sounds and Read Write Inc. Stages

If your child is learning to read at school with Read Write Inc. Phonics, they will be at one of the following stages:

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Parent guide to Read Write Inc. Phonics - Oxford Owl

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Find out what Read Write Inc. Phonics is and find eBooks, videos, and kits to help your child as they learn to read with Read Write Inc. Phonics at home.

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Parents: how to listen to your child read a Read Write Inc. Storybook

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Read Write Inc. sound blending tutorial using phonics flashcards

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What is phonics? Find out in our phonics guide for parents. Learn about Letters and Sounds, the phonics screening test, and how to practice phonics at home.

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Professor Michael Rosen on reading for pleasure

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Sharing a book with a child is fun! It’s a time for closeness, laughing and talking together – and it can also give children a flying start in life and…

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Welcome to the Norfolk Library & Information Service YouTube channel! Here you will find lots of our online activities for adults and children alike. Norfolk Library & Information Service is part of Norfolk County Council.

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Home Learning Enviroment - Do you use your local library - JustOneNorfolk.nhs.uk

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Listen for Free - HarperCollins Children's Books

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Whether you're an audiobook aficionado with super-savvy sonic skills, or still a rookie relying on your five-year-olds for tech advice, you are going to LOVE our handpicked selection of audiobooks for children and their grown-ups. Turn up the volume and have a wander around the site to get started.

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World Book Day is a registered charity. Our mission is to give every child and young person a book of their own.

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Online audio stories for children: for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 primary school pupils, aged 4 - 11. Stories cover a broad range of primary topics. Stories are grouped by theme and Key Stage and are typically about 5 minutes long. Ideal for fostering speaking and listening skills and stimulating children's imaginations. New stories added week by week.

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Online audio stories for children: for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 primary school pupils, aged 4 - 11. Stories cover a broad range of primary topics. Stories are grouped by theme and Key Stage and are typically about 5 minutes long. Ideal for fostering speaking and listening skills and stimulating children's imaginations.

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Animated sequel which sees the Gruffalo's daughter go off in search of the Big Bad Mouse.

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Watch and interact with fun stories for babies, toddlers and young children from your favourite CBeebies shows.

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Children's speech and language - BBC Tiny Happy People

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A collection of films and articles offering advice to help improve children's language learning skills.

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Reading For Pleasure | National Literacy Trust

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Explore the joy and benefits of reading for pleasure. Learn how the National Literacy Trust is working to make sure that no child is left behind.

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The Language Tree - Child Language Development

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Do you remember your favourite books as a child - you know, the ones you read time and time again and knew practically every word of? Maybe you were lucky enough to regularly read stories with your family and had someone to read you a bedtime story before you drifted off to sleep? You won't have known at the time, but those experiences were building vital building blocks for your future.

Reading, being read to, and sharing books in the home helps to build a child's vocabulary and understanding of the world. Research shows children who start school with good vocabulary and communication skills make friends more easily, have fewer behavioural issues and are more likely to do well academically. A strong, early foundation in language has even been linked to better mental health as children get older.

Reading with your child, or encouraging your child to read independently for just ten minutes each day can make all the difference. Here are some tips to help children of all ages to enjoy reading and to get reading more often.

Your child doesn't have to read an entire book in one go! Any time spent sharing or talking about a book is beneficial, even if it's just a couple of minutes at a time. If they have to close the book early because it's time for tea, or they're just losing interest, that's okay. Reading can take a lot of mental energy and taking breaks gives children a chance to slowly build the mental stamina they need, so that soon they will be able to read for longer stretches of time.

National Literacy Trust research has found that, when used appropriately and with an adult, technology can provide an important route into reading for many children, including those in the early years, and boys. Feel free, at times, to use your mobile phones, tablets, computers, laptops and other devices to engage your child in reading and activities that can help them build their vocabulary. This can include a multitude of activities, such as:

* Telling a story using pictures on your phone

* Video calling friends and relatives to engage children in conversation

* Using YouTube to find the lyrics to nursery rhymes

* Using apps to read e-books or listen to audiobooks (many organisations are providing them for free during school closures)

These activities, or similar ones, can be used with children of all ages. Young children will learn best when doing these activities alongside you, and you can help your older child by showing them how to use the technology appropriately. All children benefit from seeing and hearing their parents and carers do things. This helps them understand how to do it themselves. Technology is also most effective when it is linked to other things your child is learning, and when it is balanced with other learning activities.

Research shows that children who engage regularly in conversational turn-taking with an adult learn faster when they're older. Taking every opportunity to chat with your child will help them build the language and vocabulary skills they need for school. Let your child pick the topic they want to talk about, listen to them, ask questions and share your ideas. You can use daily activities to spark conversation with your child, such as getting dressed or making a meal. You'll learn a lot about your child's interests!

Pictures are a great support for young and struggling readers. They are enjoyable to look at, capture children's attention and help them make sense of what they are reading. If your child is unsure about reading all the words in the book, they can start by telling a story using the pictures. Ask your child to describe the pictures they see, ask questions about what the characters are doing and why they might be doing it, and see if they can guess what might happen next. By the end of the book, you may find they have created a whole new and exciting tale!

Tara Parker is Senior Programme Manager for Early Years at the National Literacy Trust, where she supports families to engage in their young child's communication and language development.

For further information check out the rest of Starting Primary School which has lots of ways to help prepare children for different aspects of school life - both practically and emotionally.

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Top tips to support your child's reading at home

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Language development expert, Tara Parker, suggests some top tips to help you make the most of your child's reading time.

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With a library of activities and resources for every stage of the learning journey, curated by the team at Oxford University Press, we are here with inspiration to help your little ones learn, grow and flourish at home, in the classroom and beyond.

Just click on the sections in the menu to explore by subject, or use the options below to uncover content by age group.

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Oxford Owl for Home: help your child learn at home - Oxford Owl

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Oxford Owl is packed with expert advice, tips and activities to help parents support their child's education. Help your child with reading, phonics and maths.

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Words for Life | National Literacy Trust

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Activities and support for parents, children and young people to improve language, literacy and communication skills from home.

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Lots of parents worry about their child's reading. When you hear the playground chat about how well another child is doing with their reading, it's easy to feel that your child might be getting left behind.

However, it's important to remember that reading isn't a race. Being a good reader might be the finishing line, but children get there in many different ways and at different speeds.

Read (or watch) Jean Gross CBE give her expert advice on how to support children who struggle with reading.

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Lots of parents worry about their child's reading. When you hear the playground chat about how well another child is doing with their reading, it's easy to feel that your child might be getting left behind. However, it's important to remember that reading isn't a race.

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CBeebies Bedtime Stories - CBeebies - BBC

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Join a host of different celebrities for a different story read each night just before bedtime.

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This is a series of animated short stories to help children learn English with their parents. Each story has a downloadable transcript and an activities pack to help children explore and use the language.

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BBC Learning English - Stories for Children

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A series of animated short stories to help children learn English with their parents.

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Reading for pleasure - Oxford Owl for Home

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Not only does reading for pleasure improve children’s well-being, but it can be directly linked to children’s success at school and beyond.

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Educational and learning online games for children — BBC Bitesize

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Online educational games made with teachers from BBC Bitesize. Interactive learning games suitable for early years, primary and secondary learners.

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Early, Middle and Late sounds - Speech sound development

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Phonological Awareness by Jess Gilbert [e02].mp4

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Spelling tips - Teacher Talks: Video playlist - BBC Bitesize

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Mrs Hudson shows how to remember tricky spellings.