Phonics for FS1 & FS2
The Ultimate Guide
Hearing your child say "Cuh-Ah-Tuh" for Cat? That's Phonics. We explain the "Reading Wars," the "Schwa" sound trap, and why Dubai schools are obsessed with "Alien Words."
Parent Warning: The "Schwa"
Do NOT add an "uh" sound to letters.
Correct: "Mmmm" (stretch it out).
Incorrect: "M-uh".
If you say "M-uh" + "A-uh" + "T-uh", your child will hear "Muhatuh," not "Mat." This is the #1 reason children struggle to blend.
Watch: The 5-Minute 'Survival Guide' to Phonics for Parents
Quick Answer: The Parent Glossary
Teachers speak a different language in FS2. Here is your cheat sheet to understand what your child is learning:
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Phoneme | The smallest unit of sound. | The word "Cat" has 3 phonemes: c - a - t. |
| Grapheme | How the sound is written (the letter). | The sound /f/ can be written as 'f' (fish) or 'ph' (phone). |
| Digraph | Two letters making ONE sound. | sh in shop, ch in chip, th in that. |
| Blending | Pushing sounds together to read. | c-u-p → Cup. |
| Segmenting | Breaking a word apart to spell. | Dog → d-o-g. |
Dubai Context: The "Curriculum Wars"
Not all Phonics are the same. In Dubai, schools generally use one of two major schemes. It is vital your home support matches your school's scheme to avoid confusing your child.
Read Write Inc (RWI)
Used by: GEMS Wellington, JESS, Kings', Dubai British School.
Style: Very structured. Uses "Fred Talk" (a frog puppet who can only say sounds) and specific rhymes for letter formation. Grouped by ability, not age.
Jolly Phonics
Used by: Many older British schools and Nurseries.
Style: Multi-sensory. Every sound has an action (e.g., weaving your hand like a snake for 'S'). Great for active children.
The Danger of "Peer Tutors"
We often see parents hiring university students for cheap "reading help." The risk? They often teach letter names ("Ay, Bee, See") instead of sounds ("Ah, Buh, Cuh").
If a child learns "Ay" (Name) instead of "a" (Sound), they will read the word CAT as "See-Ay-Tee." This sets them back months. Our qualified teachers are trained specifically in RWI and Jolly Phonics methodologies.
What are "Alien Words"?
In Year 1, your child will sit the UK Phonics Screening Check. They must read 40 words. 20 are real, and 20 are "Alien Words" (nonsense words like Vap or Osk).
- Why? To prove they can actually decode the code, not just memorize words by sight.
- Preparation: Start practicing blending nonsense words in FS2 to build confidence.
Is your child struggling to blend?
Early intervention prevents reading anxiety. We match you with a tutor who knows your school's exact Phonics scheme (RWI or Jolly).
Find a Phonics Specialist