FAST Phonics: The 30 Minute Routine

These are the Core GPCs covered in the 4 SSP Code Levels. The Green Code Level was introduced in Week 2 of Reception (day 6)
 

SSP stands for the Speech Sound Pics Approach, which embraces linguistic and neurodiversity through visual and linguistic phonics. By meeting the learning needs of all children within the neurodiverse classroom from day 1, we prevent difficulties.
 

It starts with speech (the 10-Day Plan) and then supports both speech-to-print and print-to-speech word mapping.
This is vital because decoding a word that is already shown is much easier than encoding, which requires knowing the speech sounds, their order, and which Sound Pics (graphemes) represent those sounds.
 

Because only the Core Code is used in the routine, it is relatively easy for children to both decode and encode.
However, to encode words throughout the day, children need those words stored in the orthographic lexicon. Without this, they will not know which graphemes to use or whether a word is spelt correctly once written. These need to know the speech sounds, spelling and meaning of the words. 
 

This is why children need to be word mapping throughout the day, using words with correspondences not covered in the Core Code. You can support this with the other SSP activities, as shown on the Word Mapping Mastery site.
 

They should also use the MyWordz tech during these activities. It allows them to type words they cannot yet decode or want to check, and to type Phonemies (speech sounds) to see the correct spelling. The more words they map, the better.

This page shows how we ensure that 95% of children can pass the Phonics Screening Check before starting Year 1, and that all children develop strong phonemic awareness and phonological working memory. It is vital that they achieve this, as we need every child to be an avid reader before they start KS2. This is not possible if content is taught from the front. Many of these little ones will also need emotional support, and more help organising their station.  

You can see, in this photo, that the teacher is sitting with a group working on the Green Code Level, helping them to navigate the app, and offering positive reinforcement. Children working at the Purple, Yellow and Blue Code Levels are on different tables.
When a child has mastered a Code Level they simply work at the next table the next day!
When they watch their Code Level lesson they see the next level GPCs at the end, so they can give it a go on the Coding Poster!