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Original poster

AIBU to question whether my Year 7 still needs phonics?

87 replies

Passmethecheese · 02/04/2026 06:20

Hi so there is a long back history but I won’t go to far in to it unless I have to expand later on.
for multiple reasons DD ( year 7 ) was a late reader.
she has never grasped phonics and it was a huge struggle for many years. Year 4 she was reading at reception level and then something changed.
She started reading and progressed very fast to being a “ free reader “ in year 6.
the issue is she still would not pass a year 2 phonics screening !
her year 6 teacher was adamant in keeping phonics going. That although she could read well that without phonics the gap would appear again when readinf more complex texts.
so we continued with phonics but to be honest not getting anywhere apart from stress.
Sats she scored 107 scaled score for reading.
She now attends a small Sen school that she doesn’t quite match the cohort for but was the best choice we had. It follows full mainstream curriculum and is for those academically able.
they assessed them at the start of year 7 and again now towards the end of year 7.
they have reading interventions but said they didn’t feel the need to stress DD with phonics intervention when her scores showed that although there is issues with her phonics. Her reading, speed, accuracy and comprehension was not affected.
she has read in year 7 and got “ secured “ in end of topic assements for - private peaceful and Romeo and Juliet.
she doesn’t use a reader in any lessons and reads independently.
reading plus ( not sure that relevant ) but is on the level of year 8.
I am conflicted if I should still push for phonics intervention when her teacher last year was adamant you could not be actual free reader without phonics.
should I still request her to be put in to phonics intervention ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Passmethecheese · 02/04/2026 08:06

TeenToTwenties · 02/04/2026 08:02

It seems to me phonics is a bit like times tables.
A very useful underpinning that it is worth everyone attempting to master.
But some people will struggle so much that they need to give up, find work arounds that are 'good enough' and spend the time more usefully elsewhere.

Times tables is a whole different issue 🤣 we are not quitting that just yet !

OP posts:
Whatsthepointofphonics · 02/04/2026 08:05

CandyEnclosingInvisible · 02/04/2026 06:46

Go with the recommendations of her current school. It is true that without being secure in phonics the she will struggle with more complex texts - however if it's not getting anywhere there is a limit to how much it's worth keeping on, and it's more important to keep her feeling positive about learning new things.

Example of where she may struggle - in ALevel chemistry there will be a bunch of chemical nanes that are only one letter different from each other, with a particular vowel being a or e or i signifying the presence or absence of a particular atom in the molecule. If she's not learned phonics then she reads by recognising the shape of the whole word and that's really going to be difficult at ALevel and could prove fatal to someone if she wants to go into Nursing for example - but perhaps that will be something to worry about when the time comes because she may choose a path in life that doesn't have these potential pitfalls.

Nonsense. I could read before I started school and could never grasp phonics. I just didn't see the point when I could already read. School eventually gave up and let me free read when everyone else was doing phonics. Happily employed as an academic who has to deal with lots of big words on a daily basis.

TeenToTwenties · 02/04/2026 08:02

It seems to me phonics is a bit like times tables.
A very useful underpinning that it is worth everyone attempting to master.
But some people will struggle so much that they need to give up, find work arounds that are 'good enough' and spend the time more usefully elsewhere.

Original poster
Passmethecheese · 02/04/2026 07:58

TeenToTwenties · 02/04/2026 07:55

Phonics has been around for over 100 years.
All that phonics is, is learning how sounds are described in letters.

People either need to be explicitly taught this (which has been shown to have the overall best success rate) or they kind of work it out for themselves by being taught so many words they kind of get the rules, or ....

... the alternative is you can't pronounce words you've not seen written before.

Maybe that matters maybe it doesn't.

I can make plausible attempts at eg amlodopine because I know phonics. It may not be completely right due to the fact that different sounds can have the same spellings, but it would be close enough for someone who does know the word to know what I meant.

Ultimately whether you like it or not, if you can break a new word down into components to help say it for the first time then you are using phonics.

She can’t verbally break words down whether she is doing this subconsciously - who knows.

OP posts:
Original poster
Passmethecheese · 02/04/2026 07:57

Thank you this has put my mind at ease.
she has had such a chaotic school life and in my opinion has done amazingly considering even if not quite there is everything. I think the small setting will give her the chance to catch up on everything she missed ( less than 25 percent actually in the wxhiok building during primary ) I just want to make sure I’m doing what’s best for her and she has a fair chance at an education from now.

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 02/04/2026 07:55

Phonics has been around for over 100 years.
All that phonics is, is learning how sounds are described in letters.

People either need to be explicitly taught this (which has been shown to have the overall best success rate) or they kind of work it out for themselves by being taught so many words they kind of get the rules, or ....

... the alternative is you can't pronounce words you've not seen written before.

Maybe that matters maybe it doesn't.

I can make plausible attempts at eg amlodopine because I know phonics. It may not be completely right due to the fact that different sounds can have the same spellings, but it would be close enough for someone who does know the word to know what I meant.

Ultimately whether you like it or not, if you can break a new word down into components to help say it for the first time then you are using phonics.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 02/04/2026 07:48

@Passmethecheese Phonics has been in for around 15 years. It was pushed very hard and can help slower readers. However very bright dc can be bored to tears with it. It’s slow when a dc is picking up words very easily. Plus there’s a tendency to do whole class teaching so the SEN child who finds learning tricky is taught at the same pace as a dc heading to Oxbridge! Years ago dc were taught at their own speed in smaller groups. Phonics hasn’t produced a great uptick in reading proficiency and parents get obsessed with it. A good diet of books makes a big difference I think.

Original poster
Passmethecheese · 02/04/2026 07:38

ladygindiva · 02/04/2026 07:36

You're probably correct you didn't do phonics. My DD aged 28 never did phonics ( at a mainstream UK primary) as it wasn't a thing. My 9 year old never did either as she taught herself to read somehow before school ( autistic, hyperlexic) and my other 9 year old worked with phonics in reception and it worked really well for her. I really believe it's not for everyone.

Show quote history

Yes so I’m slightly older than your daughter ( less than a decade older anyway 🤣)

OP posts:
ladygindiva · 02/04/2026 07:36

Passmethecheese · 02/04/2026 06:38

To be honest I think this was probably alor of the problem.
She did not attend school very often throughout primary school and so she had a combination of school and home learning.
I don’t remember doing phonics 🤣 I really struggled to keep up with phonics when she couldn’t attend school. We read loads but then when in school it was phonics and I think she just never grasped it ! I eventually moved to sight reading which is when we turned a corner and she flew with it.
now even the mention of phonics is a meltdown but I do worry if he eas right and maybe further down the line it would become an issue ?

Show quote history

You're probably correct you didn't do phonics. My DD aged 28 never did phonics ( at a mainstream UK primary) as it wasn't a thing. My 9 year old never did either as she taught herself to read somehow before school ( autistic, hyperlexic) and my other 9 year old worked with phonics in reception and it worked really well for her. I really believe it's not for everyone.

MyFAFOera · 02/04/2026 07:34

Deliaskis · 02/04/2026 06:53

@CandyEnclosingInvisible I disagree that she will struggle later. Phonics is a relatively modern way of teaching people to read. It isn't a way most adults read new words. I work with scientists who are all very capable of reading scientific terms and compound names accurately having never learnt phonics. And millions of healthcare workers also never learnt phonics and again can accurately read medical terms.

It's a tool to learn to read, it isn't how most adult established readers read.

They may never have been taught phonics but they are almost certainly subconsciously using them, to break a word down into its component parts.
An inability to use phonics makes it extremely difficult to read words you haven't come across before, which needs decoding using phonics.

Kouklamo · 02/04/2026 07:34

Kouklamo · 02/04/2026 07:31

I can’t do phonics easily. I couldn’t fluently sound out a pokemon or something unfamiliar without a bit of an effort. Some peoples brains don’t work like that. With respect it’s bollocks that phonics is the only way to be able to read complex texts it’s just currently in fashion. I am also dyslexic.

I love reading for pleasure and I do technical reading as part of my job (scientific papers, legislation etc) and am very good at it. I also have a PhD. She will be fine she just needs to read a lot.

I will also say. School thought I was stupid and gave me confidence issues. When I went and did a degree I was suddenly top of the year and haven’t looked back. I just didn’t fit into the boxes.

Catza · 02/04/2026 07:32

CandyEnclosingInvisible · 02/04/2026 06:46

Go with the recommendations of her current school. It is true that without being secure in phonics the she will struggle with more complex texts - however if it's not getting anywhere there is a limit to how much it's worth keeping on, and it's more important to keep her feeling positive about learning new things.

Example of where she may struggle - in ALevel chemistry there will be a bunch of chemical nanes that are only one letter different from each other, with a particular vowel being a or e or i signifying the presence or absence of a particular atom in the molecule. If she's not learned phonics then she reads by recognising the shape of the whole word and that's really going to be difficult at ALevel and could prove fatal to someone if she wants to go into Nursing for example - but perhaps that will be something to worry about when the time comes because she may choose a path in life that doesn't have these potential pitfalls.

I am terribly sorry but both you and the teacher must realise that there are thousands of people currently working in nursing profession in the UK who have never been taught phonics and thousands more international students doing science degrees without much trouble.
I have only had cursory phonics at school. More in keeping with "and now we are going to read. By the way when you see letters "sch" it pronounces as..." I've since completed two degrees, clinical research and work in the NHS and not once have I killed someone. Oh, I also have A levels in chemistry.
This sort of regressive testing is stressful and unnecessary and is a tick boxing exercise for the school. Nothing to do with actual learning needs of a student.

Kouklamo · 02/04/2026 07:31

I can’t do phonics easily. I couldn’t fluently sound out a pokemon or something unfamiliar without a bit of an effort. Some peoples brains don’t work like that. With respect it’s bollocks that phonics is the only way to be able to read complex texts it’s just currently in fashion. I am also dyslexic.

I love reading for pleasure and I do technical reading as part of my job (scientific papers, legislation etc) and am very good at it. I also have a PhD. She will be fine she just needs to read a lot.

Formerdarkhorse · 02/04/2026 07:21

One of my Dc really struggled with phonics and was still on Y2 books in Y5. I got him a tutor who uses a different method called Toe To Toe used for struggling readers/dyslexia/etc and he caught up to his age within 1 year. I guess phonics aren’t for everyone!

Hibbs126 · 02/04/2026 07:20

I always struggled with phonics but can read perfectly fine. My mum (was a teacher) got frustrated ayt my primary school as they wouldn't give me harder books to read as I couldn't do phonics even though I could read well. My husband struggled with phonics as he's deaf but can read without any problems, he has a Masters in a tricky subject and a high flying job. Phonics isnt everything, there are other tools you can use.

Original poster
Passmethecheese · 02/04/2026 07:14

tamade · 02/04/2026 07:06

Surely once kids have got the hang of reading it is all about volume.

Sounds like the phonics (and any other learning to read tools) are redundant now.

I suppose the issue being “ new words “
she is fairly good at learning a word after seeing and learning it once.

using context in a sentence to establish a word and then next time knowing it by sight rather than context.

I assume there is some negatives / restrictions to this but the more we read and the more words exposed the less it would happen.

OP posts:
tamade · 02/04/2026 07:12

CandyEnclosingInvisible · 02/04/2026 06:46

Go with the recommendations of her current school. It is true that without being secure in phonics the she will struggle with more complex texts - however if it's not getting anywhere there is a limit to how much it's worth keeping on, and it's more important to keep her feeling positive about learning new things.

Example of where she may struggle - in ALevel chemistry there will be a bunch of chemical nanes that are only one letter different from each other, with a particular vowel being a or e or i signifying the presence or absence of a particular atom in the molecule. If she's not learned phonics then she reads by recognising the shape of the whole word and that's really going to be difficult at ALevel and could prove fatal to someone if she wants to go into Nursing for example - but perhaps that will be something to worry about when the time comes because she may choose a path in life that doesn't have these potential pitfalls.

Do phonics taught readers read forever differently to those taught using other tools?
Is there any work published on this? If phonics readers are always sounding out even in their heads, wouldn't that slow them down considerably?

I thought that as readers mature they all move towards reading by sight/shape, context and anticipation.

Original poster
Passmethecheese · 02/04/2026 07:12

TeenToTwenties · 02/04/2026 07:09

I wonder if she is better at phonics than you all realise?

Could she read eccentric, eclectic, electric all correctly?

She would able to read eccentric and electric not sure about eclectic and she is asleep hahaha

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 02/04/2026 07:09

I wonder if she is better at phonics than you all realise?

Could she read eccentric, eclectic, electric all correctly?

tamade · 02/04/2026 07:06

Surely once kids have got the hang of reading it is all about volume.

Sounds like the phonics (and any other learning to read tools) are redundant now.

SixSevenShutUp · 02/04/2026 07:05

CandyEnclosingInvisible · 02/04/2026 06:46

Go with the recommendations of her current school. It is true that without being secure in phonics the she will struggle with more complex texts - however if it's not getting anywhere there is a limit to how much it's worth keeping on, and it's more important to keep her feeling positive about learning new things.

Example of where she may struggle - in ALevel chemistry there will be a bunch of chemical nanes that are only one letter different from each other, with a particular vowel being a or e or i signifying the presence or absence of a particular atom in the molecule. If she's not learned phonics then she reads by recognising the shape of the whole word and that's really going to be difficult at ALevel and could prove fatal to someone if she wants to go into Nursing for example - but perhaps that will be something to worry about when the time comes because she may choose a path in life that doesn't have these potential pitfalls.

Lol, please don't be so dramatic. If she can read Private Peaceful then she can spot the difference between words with small variations in vowels already. Let her carry on with age appropriate learning. She can ask about anything she finds confusing and that will be more useful as it will be answering a question that she actually has, rather than trying to anticipate what she doesn't know.

chateauneufdupapa · 02/04/2026 07:05

CandyEnclosingInvisible · 02/04/2026 06:46

Go with the recommendations of her current school. It is true that without being secure in phonics the she will struggle with more complex texts - however if it's not getting anywhere there is a limit to how much it's worth keeping on, and it's more important to keep her feeling positive about learning new things.

Example of where she may struggle - in ALevel chemistry there will be a bunch of chemical nanes that are only one letter different from each other, with a particular vowel being a or e or i signifying the presence or absence of a particular atom in the molecule. If she's not learned phonics then she reads by recognising the shape of the whole word and that's really going to be difficult at ALevel and could prove fatal to someone if she wants to go into Nursing for example - but perhaps that will be something to worry about when the time comes because she may choose a path in life that doesn't have these potential pitfalls.

lol!! Someone drank the phonics kool aid

chateauneufdupapa · 02/04/2026 07:04

Passmethecheese · 02/04/2026 06:54

How did we learn how to read ? I was having this conversation with my sister the other day and I really can’t remember doing phonics 🤣 but I can’t remember any other way I did either.
when did phonics become the main way of teaching ?

Show quote history

Look and say method, and lots of practice, usually

WhistPie · 02/04/2026 07:02

CandyEnclosingInvisible · 02/04/2026 06:46

Go with the recommendations of her current school. It is true that without being secure in phonics the she will struggle with more complex texts - however if it's not getting anywhere there is a limit to how much it's worth keeping on, and it's more important to keep her feeling positive about learning new things.

Example of where she may struggle - in ALevel chemistry there will be a bunch of chemical nanes that are only one letter different from each other, with a particular vowel being a or e or i signifying the presence or absence of a particular atom in the molecule. If she's not learned phonics then she reads by recognising the shape of the whole word and that's really going to be difficult at ALevel and could prove fatal to someone if she wants to go into Nursing for example - but perhaps that will be something to worry about when the time comes because she may choose a path in life that doesn't have these potential pitfalls.

And yet so many of us managed to understand chemistry and become scientists before they'd invented phonics.

And we didn't manage to kill others on the way.

Miraculous. Don't know how we did it.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 02/04/2026 06:56

I’m not an expert, just interested, and I’m not convinced further phonics is beneficial here. Many dc didn’t do formal phonics decades ago., but can read. I was someone who never was taught phonics and I’m a capable reader. My DC were free readers at age 7 without doing phonics the way it’s taught now. My instinct is to crack on as she is and not, in effect, take her back to primary school type teaching. However if she struggles with reading at any time, maybe a short revisit and reminder? If this school isn’t really pushing it, I’d accept she’s ok. Free reader is a sort of milestone but doing well in her current setting would mean more to me and I guess they aren’t labelling dc as free readers or otherwise.

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