Phase 3

Introduction to Letters and Sounds Phase 3

Click here if you're looking for free, printable Phase 3 Resources.

By the time they reach Phase 3, children will already be able to blend and segment words containing the 19 letters taught in Phase 2.

Over the twelve weeks which Phase 3 is expected to last, twenty-five new graphemes are introduced (one at a time).

Set 6: j, v, w, x

Set 7: y, z, zz, qu

Consonant digraphs: ch, sh, th, ng

Vowel digraphs: ai, ee, igh, oa, oo, ar, or, ur, ow, oi, ear, air, ure, er

During Phase 3, children will also learn the letter names using an alphabet song, although they will continue to use the sounds when decoding words.

Tricky words

During Phase 3, the following tricky words (which can't yet be decoded) are introduced:

• he
• she
• we
• me
• be
• was
• you
• they
• all
• are
• my
• her

Recommended: Words and Pictures Phonics

Visit the Standards site to find out more about implementing Phase 3 of Letters and sounds in the classroom.