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.

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.

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

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 existing 114 Rocket Phonics reading books 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.

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.

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

Yes. Our CPD training is led by Rocket Phonics lead author and trainer Abigail Steel. Your school can choose from our Core training at £980 - £1260+VAT and our Premium training at £1820 - £2100. Both options can be delivered in-school, virtually or a combination of the two Learn more here.

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 114 additional reading practice books available in packs from £22 - £444. The online 1-year subscription is £350+VAT per year for unlimited access to everything in digital format plus teaching Big Books, games, videos, downloadable teaching notes and more.