GES Simply Letters and Sounds programme
Schools that are using our programme have seen a huge impact on their phonics and early reading provision.
“The school has built a culture and love of reading. The phonics programme is logically sequenced to build knowledge securely. Pupils take home books which match the sounds practised in class and their progress is carefully monitored. Those who need additional support are identified swiftly and those not yet ready to learn phonics are provided with a strong foundation in the early reading programme which is delivered with expertise.”
Ofsted, Kentish Town Church of England Primary School, July 2024
“The Autism Resource Base will be given an Advanced award. Congratulations for demonstrating standards of excellence in supporting autistic children within an inclusive context.” National Autistic Society, July 2024
“Reading is the golden thread of the curriculum. Pupils follow a well-sequenced reading curriculum. Their progression in phonics is checked carefully. Pupils who need more help with learning to read are quickly identified. They receive additional support to help them catch up quickly. Pupils develop a love of reading.”
Ofsted, St Mary’s Bryanston Square C of E School, May 2023
**** NEW ****
Teaching materials for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities
Kentish Town C of E Primary School has developed teaching materials for pupils with SEND who are at the pre-phonic stage of learning to read. The teaching materials align with GES Simply Letters and Sounds (GES SLS) and pave the way for the systematic synthetic phonics programme to be taught to this group of pupils, based on their individual learning needs. The materials cover activities from Phase 1 from the original Letters and Sounds 2007 and other pre-reading skills which are necessary for pupils to be taught Phase 2 phonics. The activities also foster a love of early reading.
The school is making these resources and training available to schools using GES SLS. For further details contact the school by clicking this link Kentish Town C of E Primary School
*** NEW *** GES Simply Letters and Sounds Adapted for Key Stage 3 - Subscription
Our Key Stage 3 Programme is available to secondary schools through our subscription model.
For further information contact Raj Mehta [email protected]
Our Intent
GES Simply Letters and Sounds adapted for key stage 3 directly responds to Ofsted’s recommendations mentioned in Telling the Story: the English education subject report, March 2024.
The main programme has been highly successful in primary schools, including supporting pupils in key stage 2. The key objective of the key stage 3 programme is to help secondary school teachers across all departments, swiftly identify and address students’ specific gaps in phonics knowledge and skills and develop fluency in reading. Furthermore, it helps teachers to adapt the learning to meet the specific needs of individual students. The aim is for students to become fluent, confident readers and writers as soon as possible so they can meet the challenges of the secondary curriculum.
GES Simply Letters and Sounds is unique because the principles of working memory are firmly embedded. The lessons include subject specific vocabulary which teachers can add to.
Overview of the programme
- GES Simply Letters and Sounds Key Stage 3 Teachers’ Handbook
- Forty-nine age-appropriate lesson plans covering Phases Two, Three and Five
- Resources to support the teaching of phonics lessons
- Baseline assessment to identify students’ precise gaps in phonics knowledge and skills
- Assessment guidance and end-of-phase assessment tasks
- Assessment guidance for reading fluency
- Tracker for leaders and teachers to measure students’ progress from baseline assessment and inform next steps
- Short CPD video clips
The programme offers high-quality CPD and support to ensure consistency in the implementation and maximising impact on students’ achievement.
Overview of main GES Letters and Sounds Programme
Progression of Grapheme-Phoneme Correspondence (GPC) and Tricky Words
- Mapped out over six weeks, with the first five weeks being teaching weeks. The sixth week is revision and assessment week.
- Tricky words, known as common exception words (CEW) in the Primary National Curriculum, align to each of the phases in the original Letters and Sounds 2007.
Teachers' Handbook and Great Expectations Secured Keep Up Programme Handbook
The Teacher’s Handbook provides teachers with all the necessary guidance to implement GES Simply Letters and Sounds Systematic, Synthetic Phonics Programme in their schools.
The Great Expectations Secured Handbook provides guidance for practitioners with supporting those children at risk falling behind with the pace of our programme. It offers teachers two approaches – Same Day Keep Up and Sustained Intervention Programme.
Resources
A range of GES Simply Letters and Sounds Resources have been tried and tested in classrooms with huge success.
We offer individual Resources to purchase as well as complete Resource packs for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.
Decodable Books
Ransom Reading Stars decodable books match the progression of grapheme-phoneme correspondence (GPC) and tricky words in GES Simply Letters and Sounds.
Shown below are some examples of the Ransom Reading Stars books.
Please click here to be directed to their Website for the full set of books.
Bugs Club Decodable Books
Bugs Club reading scheme supplements GES Simply Letters and Sounds.
Please click here to access Bug Club Phonics catalogue to order specific titles. The books can be purchased individually or as packs of 6 per phase to top your current collection.
We support schools in matching their existing reading schemes to our Grapheme-Phoneme Correspondence (GPC) progression to help reduce the cost of purchasing more decodable books.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Our training and support packages are delivered by long-standing phonics experts and school leaders with extensive experience in phonics and early reading.
One of our associate consultants is a SEND specialist, dyslexia specialist and assessor who plays a key role in supporting schools to ensure that children with SEND access the same phonics curriculum as their peers and achieve highly.
To view the Training Courses We offer click here
GES Simply Letters and Sounds Online Subscription
Our subscription offers schools a generous package of teaching materials, resources, and continued support to schools.
GES Simply Letters and Sounds online subscription includes:
- GES Simply Letters and Sounds Teachers’ Handbook (digital)
- GES Great Expectations Secured Handbook: GES Simply Letters and Sounds Keep Up Programme (digital)
- Six-weekly planning for Reception & Year 1
- Daily lesson plans for Reception & Year 1
- Six-weekly planning for Year 2, revision block of Phase Five and National Curriculum content Autumn 1
- Daily lesson plans for Year 2 Autumn 1
- Half-termly assessment materials for Reception and Year 1 (see Handbook)
- End of Phase Five assessment for Years 1 & 2 (see Handbook)
- Half-termly Tracker
- Resource Downloads PDFs:
– Grapheme Mats Phases Two, Three and Five
– Grapheme Phoneme-Correspondence Support Mats – Phases Two, Three and Five
– Phase Five Alternative Spelling Mat – Consonants
– Phase Five Alternative Spelling Mat – Vowels
– Correct Letter Formation Mat A3
– Handwriting Worksheets with clear start and finish points for letter formation A4 - Digital Resources to support online delivery on any digital platform. Available to download:
– Grapheme-Phoneme Correspondence Mnemonic Cards Phases Two, Three and Five
– High frequency and Tricky Word Cards Phases Two, Three, Four and Five - Short CPD video clips
We offer a range of annual subscriptions depending on the size of schools. Current subscription rates are:
One Form Entry £750 + VAT
Two Form Entry £850 + VAT
Three Form+ Entry £1,050 + VAT
From second year onwards, the subscription has to be renewed annually. The renewal subscription rate will be reduced by £100 depending on the size of your school.
This annual subscription renewal will:
- Entitle your school to continue using the programme
- Have access to three one-hour online support sessions during each academic year, based on your school’s priorities, and needs.
