This Term at Home
Reception

2 letters, 1 sound.

Phonics: how do I help my child read ff, ll and ss? Most Reception classes have learnt these double letters in the last week or so. Each pair makes one sound, the same as a single f, l or s.

Reception phonics: 2 letters, 1 sound, with the letter pairs ff, ll and ss shown large. Text slide. Say ff, ll and ss the way school does: one short sound each. Tiles: ff says f, ll says l, ss says s. The words off, puff, bell, doll, kiss and mess with the double letters highlighted. fffff with a tick, fuh with a cross: keep the sound pure, with no uh on the end. b, e, ll blended into bell, with ll highlighted. Three sticky notes showing ff, ll and ss. Text slide asking to send to the Reception class group.

The method in words

ff says f: off, puff
ll says l: bell, doll
ss says s: kiss, mess

3 tips from how school teaches it:

  1. Keep the sound pure: "fff", not "fuh"
  2. Point under the pair: it's one sound
  3. Slide your finger along to blend: b-e-ll, bell

Phonics schemes vary by school. Ask your child's teacher which one they use, and look at its parent page for the exact sounds.

Sources: Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, Reception programme overview; national curriculum for English, Year 1 word reading.

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