Children entering Phase 4 will be able to represent each of the 42 phonemes by a grapheme, and be able to blend phonemes to read CVC words and segment CVC words for spelling. They will have some experience in reading two-syllable words and captions. Those children who are non-verbal may still have the ability to learn Phase 4, blending and segmenting without saying the sounds
themselves.

The purpose of this phase is to consolidate children’s knowledge of graphemes in reading and spelling words containing adjacent consonants, e.g. swim, clap, jump, and polysyllabic words, e.g. children, shampoo, melting.
 

• By the end of phase 4 children may be able to blend and read some CCVC (consonant/consonant/vowel/consonant) words and know how to segment and spell them.
• During this phase the children will continue to read two-syllable words and simple captions if appropriate, e.g. lunchbox, sandpit, helper.
• They will also continue to learn to read some high-frequency ‘tricky’ words, including, some, when, little, like, said and out.These words are non-decodable meaning that they cant be sounded out.
• They may also begin to read short sentences, e.g. It is fun to camp in a tent.
• It must always be remembered that phonics is the step up to word recognition. Automatic reading of all words – decodable and tricky – is the ultimate goal which some children may already be able to do.

Activities/Ideas for Home

• CCVC/ tricky word matching games.
• Match CCVC words to the corresponding pictures  - these could be pictures in a motivating book/ catalogue / photographs from around your home.
• Go on a word hunt by labelling items in your home with the corresponding CCVC / polysyllabic words e.g. lamp, milk, sink, shampoo, lunchbox.
• Create a set of CCVC words flash cards to practice blending and segmenting. This could also be done for the tricky words.
• CCVC word fishing in the bath.
• Fly swatter game—adult to say a CCVC word and the child uses the fly swatter to identify it from a selection of  three/ four words (placing the words on shaving foam can make for an even more exciting game).
• CCVC words hidden in sensory media, e.g. sand, shaving foam. Practice blending and segmenting each word as they find them .
• Reading books specifically focused on CCVC words.
• Phonics games on computer/apps.
• Sentence and picture matching—Phase 4 resources on Twinkl