A question for nursery practitioners. Phonics for 2-4 year olds?

[Fandabydosey]

Wondered if any other nurseries do phonics with 2-4 year olds due to parental pressure? I don't believe it has a place in a nursery setting. Am I wrong?

A nursery shouldn’t be doing things due to parental pressure
I’m the expert with a degree in child development and I’ll do what I believe is developmentally appropriate
We do letters and sounds phase one but it’s linked to the EYFS and it’s mostly about listening skills and recognising rhythm and rhyme and is done through nursery rhymes, songs, stories and games

Yes, our nursery does phonics, probably more with 3-4 year olds. No idea if it's due to parental pressure.

Why not? There are certainly children of that age who are ready and keen to learn to read (DS1 and one of his friends, who have just turned 4, are reading sentences.)

Sorry, missed that the question was aimed at nursery practitioners.

Lots of stories, lots of nursery rhymes, lots of songs. That is what is important. Seeing how a book works eg holding a book, turning the pages correctly, looking from left to right. Recognising their names. Also recognising colours, building with bricks and recognising shapes.
Above all, it is the joy of books and language which is the most important part of beginning to read.

Children should be secure in phase 1 (listening and actually hearing the sounds) before being rushed into recognising letters. So many children start Reception recognising written letters (and mispronouncing them!) but can't hear a rhyme or blend/segment orally. It disadvantages them compared to the children who don't recognise any letters but can hear sounds.

Unfortunately it's easier for practitioners to do flash cards and Jolly Phonics actions than actually think about the teaching of the basics that will really benefit children's development - and is more impressive to parents "ooh my 2 year old knows all the letters!"

@ChildminderMum I totally agree 100% there seems to be this misunderstanding that the development matters part of the EYFS is a tick list to be completed by the time they leave nursery. When in fact the development matters is a guide and stretches up until the end of reception. If there is no listening and attention skills then there is no way a child should be learning letter sounds especially when staff can't even do it correctly. We are not qualified teachers. Flash cards are incredibly boring for 3 year old children. They have the next 16 years in compulsory education. It makes me so sad