All Aboard Phonics weekly focus overview

The All Aboard Phonics programme provides a structured approach to teaching phonics to children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Year 1. The curriculum is divided into several phases, each with a specific focus and set of 'tricky words' that do not conform to standard phonetic patterns. Phase 2, lasting six weeks, introduces initial sounds and simple consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words, while also presenting some early tricky words such as 'the', 'to', and 'and'. As the children progress to Phase 3 over twelve weeks, they encounter new letter combinations like 'sh', 'ch', 'th', and 'ng', and tricky words expand to include 'he', 'she', and 'was'.

Phase 4, which spans six weeks, consolidates children's knowledge with consonant-vowel-consonant-consonant (CVCC) and consonant-consonant-vowel-consonant (CCVC) word structures, while introducing words like 'said' and 'so'. In Year 1, Phase 5 continues throughout the year, focusing on new graphemes, alternative phonemes, and high-frequency words. This phase also includes units on reading and spelling, with an emphasis on various graphemes for different sounds and word endings. For children in Year 2, the programme transitions to the National Curriculum for spelling, but additional support is available through the All Aboard Phonics Plus intervention for those who need it. The programme's manuals, such as the Phase 5 Unit 3 & 4 Teacher Manual, provide detailed guidance for educators to ensure effective phonics instruction.