Welcome to
Before Phonics
Turns out, learning to read doesn't start with letters. (Nobody tells parents that.)
Meet Before Phonics.
She's the friend who talks you out of teaching your child letter sounds to 'get them ahead' and shows you what actually comes first.
Reception doesn't teach this.
By the time your child starts Reception, they're straight into Phase 2 phonics and learning letter sounds fast.
And let me tell you, they hit the ground running - I taught it for over a decade, and I know how difficult it is for children to learn this alongside letter sounds.
Once Reception starts, there's no time to go back and learn Phase 1...
Learning letter sounds before they start school doesn't 'get them ahead' unless they have Phase 1 skills; it creates gaps in their learning...
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All parents of preschool children need this! I'm shocked at how easy all of the activities are to fit in every day life without any setup or cost. I was a little unsure on what to do, but now I feel more confident in approaching phase 1 phonics!
So, what exactly am I buying?
Before Phonics is the only programme out there made specifically for parents who want to help their child master the most important part of learning to read.
Think of it as an in depth voice note sesh with an expert who is currently helping her three year old with this exact thing!
Episode 1: Welcome to Before Phonics - the only programme out there specifically designed for parents, not nursery settings
Episode 2: The explanation of phonological awareness you've been doom-scrolling for
The Activity Toolkit
60+ activities (not including the ones mentioned in each episode) that cover every aspect of phase 1 phonics, no prep or nipping to B&M for supplies required!
Episode 4: Sounds in the world around us - yes, even the sound of you locking yourself in the bathroom counts!
Episode 5: Those lovely rhythmic bangs on your best pot
Episode 6: "Kind hands with mummy please!" no more!
Episode 7: Just one more round of Twinkle twinkle 🫠
Episode 8: The skill most children struggle with made simple
Episode 9: Get that inside voice working in the right way!
Episode 10, Part 1: One half of the most important reading skill explained.
Episode 10, Part 2: The other half 😉
Episode 11: The next steps for your child and how you can help them at home
Before Phonics
£39
The only programme specifically designed for parents, not nurseries.
KNOCK, KNOCK! LET ME IN.Common FAQs
I've already started teaching letter sounds to my child!
What happens if they start Reception without phase 1?
Can't we just read and sing some nursery rhymes?
My child has been to nursery, haven't they already learnt this?
Max, Mum to Eddie
"Having Del explain phase 1 phonics is like having a cuppa with your friend. Completely non-judgmental and super friendly.
It's a relief to finally find a parenting resource that doesn't portray parenting as a walk in the park and talks about parenting warts and all.
Thanks, Del, for being a friendly voice on the other end of the podcast."
The voice behind Before Phonics...
Del Southall
Early Literacy Specialist, SENCo, and mum to a three-year-old tornado
As a former early years teacher and SENCo of over a decade, Del has seen some things 👀 And after teaching 700+ children to read, she knows a thing or two...
Now, as a mum, she understands just how little time there is in the day, and how the resources out there for parents don't explain this important part of learning to read.
As the founder of The Little Reading Nest, she focuses on helping mums of pre-schoolers understand and MASTER the before phonics stage of reading.
Before Phonics
£39
The only programme specifically designed for parents, not nurseries.
GIMME, GIMME!