What is the Sound Reading System?

  • It is a carefully constructed ‘synthetic phonic’ reading programme that teaches children how to read the complex English spelling code in simple, logical steps. The careful structure makes it both a reliable teaching tool and a tool with which to train teachers. The Sound Reading System is built round a comprehensive understanding of the entire English spelling code and could be usefully described as a ‘linguistic phonic’ programme.

    It has broken down the code into a workable framework:-

    • 26 alphabet letters
    • 44 spoken sounds
    • 176 basic spellings

    What does this mean?

    First, the available 26 letters of the alphabet have to represent the 44 sounds of speech (therefore combining letters to represent sounds that are not represented by an alphabet letter: eg the ‘sh’ in sh-i-p). Instead of having 44 neat spellings to represent the 44 sounds, there are 176 basic spellings. This means that most of the sounds have more than one spelling.

    This can be demonstrated by the sound /ee/ which has 9 spellings:-

    m-e,    t-r-ee,     t-ea-m,     f-u-nn-y,     k-ey,     ch-ie-f,     r-e-c-ei-ve,      e-v-e,    m-a-ch-i-n-e

     or the sound /f/ that has 4 spellings:

    f-a-t,       s-t-u-ff,     ph-o-n-e,      t-ou-gh

    SRS uses sound as the lynch pin upon which to hang its teaching. Reading is a system of decoding letters. The letters represent a sound. The spellings are the information the child/learner needs.  SRS teaches this information in simple steps that unfold logically. It creates a safe environment for a child to learn to read effortlessly or a ‘catch-up’ learner to master the basic skill of reading (decoding). Children also learn to spell (encoding).

    The system is unique in its simple approach to the most complex spelling code in Europe. The strength of the programme lies in the breakdown of information into steps that are easy to assimilate. It never mixes methods. It ensures clarity of approach for the teacher and therefore for the learner as well.