‘An excellent, happy school, where we enjoy learning’
By the time they reach Phase 3, children will already be able to blend and segment words containing the 19 letters taught in Phase 2.
Over the twelve weeks which Phase 3 is expected to last, twenty-five new graphemes are introduced (one at a time).
Set 6: j, v, w, x
Set 7: y, z, zz, qu
Consonant digraphs: ch, sh, th, ng
Vowel digraphs: ai, ee, igh, oa, oo, ar, or, ur, ow, oi, ear, air, ure, er
During Phase 3, children will also learn the letter names using an alphabet song, although they will continue to use the sounds when decoding words.
During phase 3 the following tricky words are taught. Tricky words cannot be sounded out as a whole. Some parts of the word are tricky. The tricky bits are underlined and in bold. It is useful to teach the children that there is a part that is trying to trick them.