Use the SSP Speech Sound Play Plan before teaching any phonics programme, not just the Speech Sound Pics Approach, to screen for dyslexia risk by assessing phonemic awareness and phonological working memory. We are identifying the 1 in 4 children at risk of struggling to learn phonics before phonics instruction begins.
IPA-aligned Phonemies are Speech Sound Monsters®. They show children the speech sound value of letters. Letters are pictures of speech sounds (Speech Sound Pics®), making word mapping visual, linguistic, and fun. Reading for pleasure by 7!


The Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach: The Core Code
Four Code Levels give children a kick-start in reading and spelling. Phonemies Show the Code!
With Phonemies, phonics becomes visible, simple, and inclusive from the very start.
Coding Poster Activity 2

This SSP Green Code Level Coding Poster is in the satpin handbook, used in the 10 day plan.
Laminate it and use a whiteboard pen.


CORE Phonics: The 30 Minute Routine
The Speech Sound Pics (SSP) Approach activities follow the 10 Day Speech Sound Play Plan in Reception!
This page gives an overview of the explicit phonics - the 30 Minute Routine.
The Core Code is taught quickly- content covered within the Reception year, so that children can explore the wider code and be reading fluency by the end of Year 1.
So this is FAST learning of the Core Code - FAST PHONICS! And it's fast because every child is working at their pace, and the teacher is freed up to offer emotional support and track progress. They learn the 4 Code Levels using the tech, and demonstrate mastery using the Coding Poster.


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!

So Simple. So Fast.
Differentiated instruction: phonics activities designed for the one in four children most at risk of reading and spelling difficulties.
The same WHAT as synthetic phonics programmes, but delivered differently.

Systematic, explicit instruction of the Core Code facilitates the 'self-teaching' phase.
Every child is able to work through the Core Code
at their pace using the A3 SSP Coding Poster and
Code Level lessons
There is no teacher-led phonics instruction - they show children how to manage their own learning.
Speech Sound Play with Speech Sound Pics®

Solo, Paired or Group Code Mapping with Texts → Coding Poster Lessons in the ICRWY Lessons App → Hands-On Learning with the Coding Poster

⏱️ 30-Minute Daily Routine
Reception: Word Mapping Mastery is facilitated through Linguistic and Visual Phonics
🎯 Designed to Systematically Learn:
✔️ 100 Core Code GPCs
✔️ The 4 Code Levels
✔️ 400 High-Frequency Words
🧒 Child-led learning with teacher support when needed
✅ 1. Solo or Paired Decoding – 5 mins
Children practise decoding and encoding words from their Code Level, and are exposed to others with a partner .
The teacher observes, encourages, and steps in as needed.
✅ 2. Coding Poster Lesson (in the ICRWY Lessons app) – 5–8 mins
Children learn new Code Level GPCs through structured audio-visual instruction.
🧠 The tech teaches. The teacher ensures connection and confidence.
✅ 3. Coding Poster – Demonstrate Mastery (15 mins)
Hands-on routines build automaticity through spaced repetition.
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Phonemic Awareness Activity – 60–90 secs
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Sound Pic Formation & Recognition – 60–90 secs
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Blending of Code Level Sound Pics – 90 secs
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Chants – 90 secs
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High-Frequency Words (HFWs) – 2 mins
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Code Level Sentences (Sound Pics + HFWs) – 2 mins
👀 The teacher observes and supports - stepping in to clarify, connect emotionally, and celebrate success.
🧩 Technology + tools do the teaching to accommodate neurodiversity - children work at their pace.
👩🏫 The teacher builds trust and tunes into the child’s learning journey.
While learning the Core Phonics also use the Speedy Six Spelling Routine, Snap and Crack (for comprehension), or Rapid Writing (for sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation). These more structured Speech Sound Pics Approach activities are explained on the WordMappingMastery.com website.
Implement Discovery Phonics throughout the day, with MyWordz® word mapping technology, to explore the whole word code in meaningful context!

Over 90% can recognise and blend the GPCs before the end of Reception, and recognise and spell over 400 high frequency words. They are exploring the rest of the code during the day and are already in the self-teaching phase before Year 1.
Parents get involved too! Children ask for the A3 Coding Poster for Xmas!








