Phonics - would this concern you?

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

Primary school open day. A question was asked about the approach used for teaching phonics. We were told they didn't follow a particular model (like Jolly Phonics) but that all children passed the phonics test last year so see no need to change their approach.

What would you think about that answer?

I'd have preferred an answe that said what they do (not what they don't)

Yes - there are so many 'confusions' seen on MN, and so many schools using so many different methods - some fifty years old or more, it is almost a miracle that somehow, despite it all, most children DO learn to read!

If all the children are passing the phonics test then they must be doing something right. They don't need an expensive programme to teach phonics.

Phonics is the traditional method, and hasn't really changed, so using books which are over 50 years old would concern me far less than using Ines which dated from the times when other methods were being experimented with.

Yes, their pass rate suggests they are doing it to standard; but I think they should be able to tell you how they do it rather than leaving you guessing.

No, I would assume that primary school teachers whose children were passing the phonics screening knew what they were taking about.

If I wasn't happy with that answer, I would have asked at the time what they were doing.

Many schools do this and get great results. I'd not be concerned about it.

At my previous place of work us Tas taught phonics this way and had freedom to plan exciting and interesting lessons , with an added degree of flexibility for those that need it. We were experienced and got results so the ht was happy to continue this way.

Where I am currently we stick rigidly to a particular scheme and this works too. There's no right or wrong way.