The foundations for a lifetime of learning
Pure sounds are the smallest sounds in language. The inherent knowledge and use of these in everyday life allows for a more seamless approach to reading, writing and learning.
At WriteRead, our Pure Sounds Programmes are broken down into Set One (Birth to Babbling) and Set Two (Babbling and Beyond). There are no boundaries as to when you can introduce these programmes. Each individual’s development is unique and many learners will benefit from an overlap or revisiting of the programmes.
WriteRead supports the introduction of phonics from birth through to adulthood, no one is too young or old to learn.
Introducing phonics through our Pure Sounds Programmes will support your child’s whole learning journey. These initial tools will make reading and writing as easy as possible for your child.
To find out more, please take a look at our introductory video for expectant or new parents/carers, 'Welcome to the World Beautiful Baby' here.
Birth to Babbling
These are the first 25 pure sounds to explore when introducing phonics. Here, one letter (a grapheme) represents the pure sound (phoneme). (Please note the letter ‘q’ is missing and is part of Set Two).
Prior to sharing the pure sounds with your child, please ensure you familiarise yourself with both sets of pure sounds. The importance of being able to say the pure sounds correctly cannot be overemphasised.
From birth and throughout life, immersive learning significantly helps our knowledge retention. Talking to your baby is a vital part of their development; this can be anything from simple soothing words to giving a commentary of what is happening around them.
For a newborn, familiarisation with their environment makes them feel safe; this can be through the sound of voices or familiar smells. Familiar surroundings will help support your baby’s visual development and, as their vision develops, they will interact more and more with their environment. Our WriteRead illustrated wallpaper and bunting support immersive learning for your child through picture cues. As your child develops, you can have fun making the pure sounds and pointing to the correct illustrations. To watch this in action please click here.
From around the age of three months, once your baby is alert and able to focus on pictures and objects, start to share the WriteRead Set One flipbook with them. Enjoy looking at the beautiful illustrations and repeat the letter sound (phoneme). Normalising the Set One pure sounds in everyday life can be supported through play. By introducing and repeating the initial sound (phoneme) of the word e.g. c c c c cat, s s s s sock etc, your child will watch your mouth movements as you speak and this will help them to make the same sounds when they start to babble.
Throughout this early phase of your child’s life, have fun talking, reading and singing to them. Once your child starts to clearly babble, start to introduce Set 2 Pure Sounds (Babbling and Beyond).
Babbling to Pre-School
This next set of pure sounds builds on Set One. More than one letter (grapheme) now represents a pure sound (phoneme). This set contains 24 different combinations of letters (graphemes) representing pure sounds in speech. Each sound is represented by either two letters, (a digraph) or three letters (a trigraph).
Prior to sharing the pure sounds with your child, please ensure you familiarise yourself with both sets of pure sounds. The importance of being able to say the pure sounds correctly cannot be overemphasised.
Once your child starts to clearly babble, it is time to introduce Set Two. This phase of your child’s development is perfect for introducing the pure sounds into everyday life. Your child will be more alert to their surroundings and exploring their environments. Sand and mud are excellent mediums for learning phonics. They can start to draw the letter with their finger, a stick, jumbo chalk or paint. Get creative! The more fun your child is having, the more unaware they will be to the learning that is taking place. Normalising pure sounds into everyday life will support your child as they start to mark make and read.