Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Rocket Phonics provides all the planning and resources needed to deliver a complete SSP programme that will equip children for success in the Phonics Screening Check in Year 1, as well as meet or exceed the expectations of the National Curriculum for reading.

Yes.  As of July 2021, Rocket Phonics is a DfE validated systematic synthetic phonics programme.

Rocket Phonics is aligned with the progression of the original Letters and Sounds (2007). The programme follows the same teaching order of grapheme-phoneme correspondences (GPCs) but we recommend a steadier pace of two GPCs per week rather than four. Using Rocket Phonics, children in Reception will learn some Phase 5 GPCs in the second half of the summer term. Learn more in the Half Termly Expectations chart here

Rocket Phonics introduces these words gradually throughout the programme and are focused on in the Friday lessons. They are drawn from the tricky words suggested in Letters and Sounds (2007) and build up into a bank of words that are vital for children to know in order to meet or exceed expectations for reading. These words are regularly consolidated throughout the programme and are featured in the Flashcards and Friezes.

Yes, it does. Letter formation is included in the twice-weekly segmenting lessons as each grapheme is introduced. Capital letters are introduced in conjunction with lower-case letters so that these don’t have to be taught as an afterthought later on.

Yes! The 114 Rocket Phonics reading books published prior to the launch of the DfE validated Rocket Phonics programme (pre May 2021) are fully aligned with the new Rocket Phonics programme and can be introduced when all the GPCs in a colour band have been taught. We recommend using them for additional reading practice in school and home.

To deliver Rocket Phonics as a full SSP programme, we recommend that your school uses the print and online resources. The core print resources consist of 140 flashcards (available in 2 sets at £22 each), 48 Target Practice reading books (available in 2 packs at £89 and £106) and 6 Pupil Practice Booklets (available in packs of 10 at £35 and 30 at £99).  There are also 132 additional reading practice books available in packs from £24 - £489) The online 1-year subscription is £350+VAT per year for unlimited access to everything in digital format plus interactive Big Books, games, videos, downloadable Teacher's Guides and display materials. 

Yes, our CPD training is led by Abigail Steel Training with in-person and virtual options available. To get the most out of the programme, we recommend that schools complete a minimum of 1-day of CPD training. Learn more about our CPD here.

In summer 2022, we launched Rocket Phonics Next Steps for Year 2. This new ‘strand’ of the programme consolidates phonics (covering Letters and Sounds Phase 6) and develops key literacy skills ahead of the transition into Key Stage 2. Learn more here.

Rocket Phonics has been created for Reception and Year 1 pupils so the content may feel too young for Key Stage 2 pupils. However, the Pupil Practice Booklets and Flashcards could work as part of a group intervention session to revisit and practise sounds.

Reading Planet has just launched Astro which is a new strand specifically for struggling and reluctant readers in Key Stage 2. It includes 24 highly decodable books aligned to the same progression as Rocket Phonics so they’re ideal for pupils who haven’t yet mastered aspects of phonics and need to improve their fluency. These books are dual-banded combining lower reading levels with age-appropriate interest levels so the content will be more suitable for Key Stage 2 pupils.  Learn more here.

Yes! Our team of local Sales Consultants are based across the country and are happy to help with information, advice and orders. They are available to discuss options for your school by phone, email and video call. Make an enquiry here.