It is a multi-sensory literacy resource which helps to teach children about letters, speech sounds and spelling choices. These skills are inter-related and build on each other to increase children's knowledge and understanding of the 26 letters and 44 sounds in English. Blending and segmentation skills are a key feature, with activities designed to develop awareness of phoneme-grapheme correspondence. A corresponding picture chart shows examples of how the letters are used in whole words.
Pictures provide visual reinforcement for the words.
There is a considerable emphasis on the importance of correct articulation of the letter sounds and many teachers may find themselves re-examining their own practice in this area. If children are to fully understand the complexities of our spelling rules, they must not be taught that 'one letter makes one sound'. Schools can use the materials flexibly to suit identified needs. Back up resources complement the charts and provide different ways of varying the input for the word level part of shared time.