To date, our pupils will have learnt one way in which each long vowel sound is written (Set 2 sounds).

When learning their Set 3 speed sounds they will be taught that there are more ways in which the same sounds are written, e.g. ee as in tree and ea as in tea.

Set 3 speed sounds reading will be taught first, followed by Set 3 ‘speed sounds’ spelling.

There are 20 Set 3 ‘speed sounds’ that are made up of two or three letters which represent just one sound, e.g. ea as in tea, ow as in cow and are as in care.

As before, it is important that the children does not pronounce these as 2 or 3 separate sounds. When your son/daughter sees the ‘speed sound’ letter together in a word, s/he must say just one sound for these letters.

When the children learn their Set 3 sounds in school they will learn: the letters that represent a speed sounds e.g. ea a simple picture prompt linked to the ‘speed sound’ and a short phrase to say e.g. cup of tea

Every speed sound has a list of green words linked to it, so your son/daughter can ‘sound out’ and ‘sound blend’ words containing the new speed sound they have just learnt, for example s-p-oil spoil.

It is important that the speed sounds are practised in the correct order as they will be taught the sounds in order of the frequency with which they will come across them when reading. The table above shows you, at a glance, the order of the sounds.

What are green words?

‘Green words’ are words which your son/daughter will be able to ‘go ahead’ and read (as in ‘Green light to go’) as they are made up of the speed sounds that s/he will have learnt.

Set 2 Speed Sound Rhyme Green words