GES Simply Letters and Sounds
A DfE validated Systematic Synthetic Phonics Programme
Adapted for Key Stage 3
GES Simply Letters and Sounds adapted for key stage 3 directly responds to Ofsted’s recommendations mentioned in Telling the Story: the English education subject report, March 2024.
The main programme has been highly successful in primary schools, including supporting pupils in key stage 2. The key objective of the key stage 3 programme is to help secondary school teachers across all departments, swiftly identify and address students’ specific gaps in phonics knowledge and skills and develop fluency in reading. Furthermore, it helps teachers to adapt the learning to meet the specific needs of individual students. The aim is for students to become fluent, confident readers and writers as soon as possible so they can meet the challenges of the secondary curriculum.
GES Simply Letters and Sounds is unique because the principles of working memory are firmly embedded. The lessons include subject specific vocabulary which teachers can add to.
Our Intent
Overview of the Programme
✓ GES Simply Letters and Sounds Key Stage 3 Teachers’ Handbook
✓ Forty-nine age-appropriate lesson plans covering Phases Two, Three and Five
✓ Resources to support the teaching of phonics lessons
✓ Baseline assessment to identify students’ precise gaps in phonics knowledge and skills
✓ Assessment guidance and end-of-phase assessment tasks
✓ Assessment guidance for reading fluency
✓ Tracker for leaders and teachers to measure students’ progress from baseline assessment and inform next steps
✓ Short CPD video clips
The programme offers high-quality CPD and support to ensure consistency in the implementation and maximising impact on students’ achievement.
