A complete, research-aligned phonics programme designed from the ground up for EAL and ESL educators — with everything needed to teach, right out of the box.
Letterland is proud to launch Friendly Phonics in 2026, a brand-new programme built specifically for children learning English as a second language (ESL). It's a milestone we've been working towards with real excitement — and the response from educators who've seen it has been overwhelmingly positive.
"We've heard for years from teachers in international schools that they needed something better — a phonics programme that truly understood the challenges of teaching multilingual learners, and that came fully resourced so teachers could focus on teaching, not planning. Friendly Phonics is our answer to that. We couldn't be more proud to bring it to classrooms."
— Tom Wendon, CEO, Letterland International
Letterland is no stranger to ESL phonics. Our programme Fix-it Phonics has been widely used in international schools around the world, and the positive feedback from that community has directly shaped what Friendly Phonics has become. This new programme builds on everything educators loved about Fix-it Phonics — the trusted Letterland characters, the systematic approach, the Science of Reading foundations — and takes it further, with more resources, greater value, and a complete all-in-one package.
What Is Friendly Phonics?
Friendly Phonics is a systematic, explicit phonics programme designed specifically for teaching English as an additional language. It takes children from their very first letter sounds through to blending, segmenting, and independent reading and writing, across three carefully sequenced levels. The programme is complete from day one: a step-by-step Digital Teacher's Guide, Student Books with built-in decodable readers, and interactive teaching tools for the classroom are all included, with nothing left to source separately.
Built for ESL Educators
For teachers in international schools, finding a programme that works across language backgrounds has always been a challenge. Friendly Phonics addresses this directly. The Digital Teacher's Guide includes explicit guidance on teaching phonics to multilingual learners, and every Student Book features QR codes linking parents to free audio tracks which support correct pronunciation at home, whatever the family's first language.
What's Inside Each Level
- Over 250 phonics activities Practising letter sounds, blending, segmenting, tricky words, and decodable text.
- Over 25 pull-out decodable readers Built directly into Student Books and matched to sounds taught — children can pull out, fold, and read.
- Free digital access via Phonics Online* Audio tracks for pronunciation support, interactive classroom tools, and a step-by-step digital Teacher's Guide.
*Offer subject to change; minimum order quantities may apply. Free access may be subject to change.
The Three Levels at a Glance
Children begin their phonics journey by connecting letter sounds and letter shapes with the help of the Letterland characters, building towards blending, segmenting, and reading simple decodable stories.
As children learn more letter sounds and cumulatively review them, they can decode more complex words, write simple sentences, and read with growing confidence.
Children extend their phonics knowledge and learn a range of less common sound patterns. By the end of Level 3, students are reading fluently and independently — well equipped for the demands of primary literacy in English.
Designed Around the Science of Reading
Friendly Phonics is designed with the Science of Reading in mind. The programme is systematic and cumulative, with phonemic awareness woven throughout.
"When designing Friendly Phonics, every decision was guided by what the research tells us works for children learning to read — especially children acquiring English as a new language. The Letterland characters give children a meaningful way to connect sounds and symbols, and the careful sequencing means they're always building on what they know. It's phonics that feels friendly, because it genuinely is."
— Lisa Holt, Author, Friendly Phonics
Articulation guidance and corrective feedback are built into lessons, helping teachers support accurate pronunciation even if they're not phonics specialists.
Better Value, Complete Resources
Friendly Phonics is 28% cheaper than Fix-it Phonics — and includes more. Each set of two Student Books per level replaces the need for separate readers, separate activity books, and separate digital subscriptions. Everything is in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Friendly Phonics designed for?
Friendly Phonics covers ages 4–7+, across three levels. Level 1 is suitable for children aged 4 and above; Level 3 takes children through to confident, independent reading typically by age 6–7.
Is Friendly Phonics suitable for complete English beginners?
Yes. The programme is specifically designed for children learning English as an additional language, starting from the very first letter sounds and building systematically.
Does Friendly Phonics align with the Science of Reading?
Yes. The programme is built on systematic, explicit phonics instruction and includes phonemic awareness activities, embedded mnemonics, cumulative review, and corrective feedback guidance — all core Science of Reading principles.
What digital resources are included?
Free access to Phonics Online is included, giving teachers audio tracks for pronunciation support, interactive classroom tools, and a full digital Teacher's Guide with step-by-step lessons.
Where can I find out more or order?
Visit letterland.com/friendly-phonics to explore the programme and purchase directly. To find a distributor in your region, visit our How to Order page.
Ready to bring Friendly Phonics to your school?
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