Nursery World - In defence of phonics

We found many of the arguments in Helen Bromley's phonics feature (Special report, 16 June) to be ill-informed and unsubstantiated. The Clackmannanshire study, for example, is only one small part of the body of evidence built up over the years in the UK and internationally, all pointing to the fact that children taught synthetic phonics consistently achieve above-average results.

The Clackmannanshire study, for example, is only one small part of the body of evidence built up over the years in the UK and internationally, all pointing to the fact that children taught synthetic phonics consistently achieve above-average results.

We would happily point Ms Bromley in the direction of this body of evidence and also provide her with samples of the e-mails, letters, testimonies and case studies from thousands of teachers and parents who have stated that synthetic phonics has been an extremely effective method of learning to read and write for their children.

Sara Wernham and Sue Lloyd, authors of Jolly Phonics (Jolly Learning)

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