At St Michael's CE Primary School, we use Read Write Inc. Phonics, a fun and highly effective programme that helps children learn to read and write with confidence. Through exciting, fast-paced lessons, children are taught to recognise the sounds that letters make (phonics) and blend these sounds together to read words. Each session is full of energy, games, and storytelling, making learning enjoyable and rewarding. As children progress, they quickly gain the skills and confidence to become fluent, enthusiastic readers who love exploring books both in school and at home.

RWI Learning Support Pack for Parents

Speed sounds and Read Write Inc. Stages

Learning Set 1 Speed Sounds

These are the Set 1 Speed Sounds written with one letter:

m  a  s  d  t  i  n  p  g  o  c  k  u  b  f  e  l  h  r  j  v  y  w  z  x

These are the sounds written with two letters (your child will call these ‘special friends’):

sh  th  ch  qu  ng  nk  ck

Check if your child can read these sounds. Make sure they say sounds like ‘mmm’, not letter names like ‘em’. Watch the Sound Pronunciation Guide video to help you.

Learning to blend with Set 1 Speed Sounds

Your child is learning to read words containing Set 1 Speed Sounds by sound blending.

For example:

m-a-t mat

c-a-t cat

g-o-t got

f-i-sh fish
s-p-o-t spot

b-e-s-t best

s-p-l-a-sh splash.

You could watch the Sound Blending video to help support your child with sound blending.

Learning Set 2 Speed Sounds

These are the Set 2 Speed Sounds:

ay  ee  igh  ow (as in blow)  oo (as in zoo)

oo (as in look) ar  or  air  ir  ou (as in out)  oy

Learning Set 3 Speed Sounds

These are Set 3 Speed Sounds:

ea (as in tea)

oi (as in spoil)

a–e (as in cake)

i–e (as in smile)

o–e (as in home)

u–e (as in huge) 

aw (as in yawn)

are (as in care)

ur (as in nurse)

er  (as in letter)

ow (as in brown)

ai  (as in snail)

oa (as in goat)

ew (as in chew)

ire (as in fire)

ear (as in hear)

ure (as in pure)

Reading books with Set 1, 2 and 3 Speed Sounds

If your child has learnt all three sets of Speed Sounds, they need to practise them and read books with words made up of those sounds.

What is Fred Talk?

Teachers will introduce your child to a toy frog called Fred once he or she is ready to start reading words.

Fred can only say the sounds in a word and needs your child to help him read the word. Fred will say the sounds and children will work out the word. For example, Fred will say the sounds c–a–t, and children will say the word cat. This is Fred Talk: sounding out the word.

Supporting Videos

Watch the video links below to learn all about how to support your child as they learn with Read Write Inc. Phonics, with detailed ideas and advice on pronouncing pure sounds, blending, and digraphs.

Why read to your child?

10 things to think about when you read to your child

Understanding phonics

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

How to help your child to learn the Read Write Inc. Phonics sounds

Read Write Inc. sound blending tutorial using phonics flashcards

Set 1 Speed Sounds Practice Sheets

Set 2 Speed Sounds Practice Sheets

Set 3 Speed Sounds Practice Sheets

Sound Cards and Mats

Phonics School Vision Document