Phonics
A method of teaching reading that explicitly links letters and letter combinations to their sounds — so a child can decode an unfamiliar word like 'cat' as /k/ /a/ /t/ rather than memorising the whole word.
Why phonics matters
English is a phonetic language with about 44 sounds (phonemes) mapped to 26 letters and many combinations. A child who has learned the phonics code can decode any new word they see — opening up unlimited reading. A child taught only through whole-word memorisation hits a ceiling around 200-300 sight words.
Synthetic phonics — the global standard
Most modern programmes (including the UK's Letters and Sounds, Jolly Phonics and the Oxford International Curriculum) use synthetic phonics — children are taught to blend individual sounds together to make words. The approach is supported by extensive research and is now the default in Indian international schools and forward-looking CBSE schools.
Phonics at home
Parents can support phonics by reading aloud, playing rhyming games and resisting the temptation to teach by 'A for Apple' alone. Letter names (A, B, C) and letter sounds (/a/, /b/, /k/) are different — phonics works with the sounds.
Related terms
Whole Language Approach
A reading philosophy that teaches children to recognise whole words and learn through immersion in books and stories — rather than starting with letter-sound decoding.
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)
A mission introduced under NEP 2020 to ensure every child in India can read with comprehension and perform basic arithmetic by the end of Class 3.
Play-Way Method
An early-childhood pedagogy in which structured and free play is the primary medium for learning literacy, numeracy and social skills.