The phonics phases explained, from Phase 2 to Phase 5
Last reviewed 29 September 2026 · 5 minute read
Schools in England teach phonics in a set order, one group of sounds at a time. The groups are called phases. If your child’s teacher says “we are on Phase 3”, this guide tells you what that means, which sounds come in each phase and what comes next.
Where the phases come from
The phases come from Letters and Sounds, a phonics programme first published by the government. Today every school uses a phonics programme that the Department for Education has approved. Many follow Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which keeps the same phases. Others, such as Read Write Inc., teach the same sounds in a slightly different order and use their own names for the stages. If you are not sure which one your child’s school uses, ask the class teacher. They are usually happy to share the order.
Phase 1: listening
Phase 1 comes before letters. Children listen to sounds around them, rhymes, rhythm and the first sounds of words. It usually happens in nursery and carries on alongside the later phases.
Phase 2: the first sounds
Phase 2 usually starts in the first term of Reception. Children learn one sound for each of these letters and letter pairs, a few at a time:
s, a, t, p, i, n, m, d, g, o, c, k, ck, e, u, r, h, b, f, ff, l, ll, ss
They start blending straight away, reading short words like “sat”, “pin” and “dog”. They also meet their first tricky words, such as “the” and “to”.
Phase 3: more sounds
Phase 3 usually follows in Reception. It adds the rest of the single letters and many sounds written with two or three letters:
- Letters: j, v, w, x, y, z, zz, qu
- Consonant pairs: ch, sh, th, ng, nk
- Vowel sounds: ai, ee, igh, oa, oo (as in “zoo”), oo (as in “book”), ar, or, ur, ow, oi, ear, air, er
By the end of Phase 3, children can read words like “rain”, “night”, “chair” and “shark”.
Phase 4: putting sounds together
Phase 4 teaches no new sounds. Instead, children read longer words with two consonants side by side, like “stop”, “milk”, “crisp” and “sandpit”. Blending more sounds at once is a big step. It usually comes at the end of Reception.
Phase 5: new spellings
Phase 5 fills most of Year 1. Children learn that one sound can be spelled in different ways, and that one spelling can make different sounds. New spellings include:
ay, ou, ie, ea, oy, ir, ue, aw, wh, ph, ew, oe, au, a-e, e-e, i-e, o-e, u-e
For example, the sound in “rain” can also be spelled “ay” as in “play” and “a-e” as in “cake”. The split spellings like “a-e” have their own guide: split digraphs. By the end of Phase 5, children have met the sounds used in the Phonics Screening Check.
Phase 6: spelling
Phase 6 usually comes in Year 2. It focuses on spelling, word endings like “-ed” and “-ing”, and reading with more fluency.
How the phases match Xenly Levels
Xenly follows the same phases, in eight levels. Your child moves to the next level when every sound in the current one is secure and they have read a short level check with you.
| Xenly Level | Phase | Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1: First sounds | Phase 2 | s a t p i n m d |
| Level 2: More sounds | Phase 2 | g o c k ck e u r |
| Level 3: Phase 2 complete | Phase 2 | h b f l ff ll ss |
| Level 4: New consonants | Phase 3 | j v w x y z zz qu ch sh th ng nk |
| Level 5: Phase 3 complete | Phase 3 | ai ee igh oa oo oo ar or ur ow oi ear air er |
| Level 6: Adjacent consonants | Phase 4 | no new sounds, longer words |
| Level 7: New spellings | Phase 5 | ay ou ie ea oy ir ue aw wh ph ew oe au a-e e-e i-e o-e u-e |
| Level 8: Screening Check Ready | Phase 5 | the other Phase 5 spellings, and a full practice check |
Your child never sees a level as a score. They see the level number and a flag on their planet. You see which phase it matches.
Where your child should be
As a rough guide, many children finish Phase 3 by the end of Reception and Phase 5 by the end of Year 1. Children learn at different speeds, and that is fine. If you are unsure, the class teacher knows exactly which sounds your child has been taught.
What Xenly does, and what it doesn’t
Xenly practises the sounds in the same order as school, so home practice supports what your child learns in class. If your child already knows some sounds, a short placement check finds their starting level, so they do not repeat what they know.
Xenly does not teach new sounds for the first time. That is your child’s teacher’s job. Xenly gives your child a calm place to practise the sounds they have been taught. See how it works and what it costs.
Questions parents ask
My child’s school uses a different programme. Does that matter?
Not much. Every approved programme teaches the same sounds by the end of Year 1, just in a slightly different order. Practising any taught sound helps.
Why does my child know “sh” but not “ay” yet?
“sh” is a Phase 3 sound and “ay” is Phase 5. Your child will meet “ay” in Year 1.
What are tricky words?
Words with a part that does not follow the sounds taught so far, like “said”. Our guide to tricky words in Year 1 lists them.
Should I teach the next phase at home?
It is usually best to practise what has been taught at school. Moving ahead can mix up the order your child’s teacher is building.
How do I say each sound?
Our guide to pure sounds lets you hear every Phase 2 and Phase 3 sound.