Guidance

Choosing a phonics teaching programme

Sets out what the government is doing to help schools choose a phonics teaching programme.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 1 April 2021
• Last updated: 16 February 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 16 February 2026

     Updated the contact details for Twinkl Phonics in 'Validated systematic synthetic phonics programme providers: contact details'.

  2. 10 September 2025

     In 'Validated systematic synthetic phonics programme providers: contact details', removed Wand Phonics and updated the contact information for Jolly Phonics.

  3. 4 October 2024

     We have updated contact details for McKie Mastery Power Phonics and Supersonic Phonic Friends. These are in 'Contact details for the validated systematic synthetic phonics programmes'.

  4. 10 March 2023

     Updated the information about the systematic synthetic phonics programme (SSP) validation process and the contact details of validated SSP programme providers.

  5. 30 January 2023

     Updated 'Choosing a phonics teaching programme' to reflect updates to SSP programmes and funding information.

  6. 16 January 2023

     Updated the contact details for Sounds-Write in 'Contact details for the validated systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programmes'.

  7. 18 July 2022

     Updated, 'Contact details for the validated systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programmes': website links for 'Read Write Inc.' and 'Smart Kids Letters and Sounds - The Code' updated.

  8. 23 June 2022

     Updated 'Choosing a phonics teaching programme': added 8 programmes and one temporary-validated programme has become validated. Updated 'Contact details for the validated systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programmes'.

  9. 28 April 2022

     This April 2022 update is not an update to the list of validated programmes; this is due to take place be in late Spring. This is an update to reflect that the third panel deadline has now passed.

  10. 30 March 2022

      Updated the list of validated systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programmes in 'Choosing a phonics teaching programme' and added updated contacts in 'Contact list for the validated systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programmes'.

  11. 18 January 2022

      Updated footnote 1 and added information about the January 2022 validation process update in the 'Choosing a phonics teaching programme' guidance. Updated contact details in the 'Contact details for the validated systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programmes' document.

  12. 16 December 2021

      Updated contact details for Anima Phonics Letters and Sounds Updated, Twinkl Phonics and Unlocking Letters and Sounds.

  13. 16 December 2021

      Updated the validated list of SSP programmes to include programmes validated in the December 2021 validation round.

  14. 25 November 2021

      Extended the third deadline for submitting SSP teaching programmes for validation. Also updated the Information for schools section with details on what's important when choosing an SSP programme, and the section on Support for schools to clarify the additional funding package and eligibility.

  15. 27 July 2021

      We have updated the information about the additional funding and added contact details for the validated SPP programmes.

  16. 10 July 2021

      We have updated the guidance on choosing a phonics teaching programme and added the new list of validated systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programmes.

  17. 1 April 2021

      First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Choosing a phonics teaching programme

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Validated systematic synthetic phonics programme providers: contact details

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Details

These documents cover the:

• validation process for systematic synthetic phonics teaching programmes
• updated list of validated phonics teaching programmes
• package of support available for schools
• processes we used between 2011 and 2014 to review effective phonics teaching programmes