Reviews

Press Reviews

  • Nichola Gale

    Spring Term, 2008

    Learning Support

    "Used to consolidate their Fast Phonics First programme, Rigby Star Phonics books are also aligned to Letters and Sounds and if the two books sent for review are anything to go by effectively fill many of the gaps left by other phonic reading schemes.

    A Picnic is a Phase 3, Set 7 book and is instantly set apart from the crowd by being a phonically decodable non-fiction book featuring multicultural characters.

    Sid Snaps is a Phase 4 fictional story, consolidating high frequency words. It combines illustrations with photographs and uses slightly more street-wise language ("kids" as opposed to "children"). Both books have helpful 'user instructions', making them an excellent resource for teachers and support staff alike."

     

  • January 2008

    Nursery Education

    Best Buy: Rigby Star Phonics

     

    "This programme is the only phonics product that is 100 per cent aligned to Letters and Sounds. Fun, easy to use and great value!"

  • December 2007

    Early Years Educator

    Resource of the Month: Rigby Star Phonics

     

    "Fast Phonics First uses synthetic phonics to teach reading and spelling and covers all of the word recognition content for the foundation stage and key stage 1, recommended in the Primary Framework... The combinations of aural, visual and kinaesthetic approaches help children to have fun learning and absorbing all they can in a fun and engaging way while they build up essential pre-requisite skills for reading.

    ...the children in my setting enjoyed the Rigby Star books and computer programmes so much, they were often seen extending their own learning using the whiteboards or magnetic letters to write sentences like 'Sid did it' and 'The cat sat on the mat' or 'Tut tut pup'.

    This is a superb resource for any early years setting either to use in isolation or as a supporting resource to other schemes."

  • John Bald

    18 September 2007

    The Guardian

    "[Fast Phonics First] has been modified to fit the government's Letters and Sounds paper… It's a valuable addition to early reading resources and demands serious consideration by all schools."  Read the full review

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  • John Galloway

    12 December 06

    The Guardian

    Visual treats and Superphonic beats John Galloway reports on what's in store for tommorow's early years classrooms at BETT 07.

  • 17th March 2006

    BBC Online

    How Phonics became as easy as a-b-c BBC news website education reporter Angela Harrison writes about Harcourt’s collaboration with Professor Rhona Johnston and Dr Joyce Watson, who set out to boost the literacy skills of children starting school in Clackmannanshire and explains more about Harcourt’s involvement with phonics teaching and Fast Phonics First Interactive

  • 20th March 2006

    BBC Online

    Teaching of reading to be revised The BBC News Online team report on the revisions to the National Curriculum, proposed in the review headed by Jim Rose and refers to the advances reported in children’s reading and spelling as part of the Clackmannanshire project.

  • Prof.Rhona Johnston and Dr Joyce Watson

    The effects of synthetic phonics teaching on reading and spelling attainment The detailed report from the Clackmannanshire team and authors of Fast Phonics First into the findings from their seven year longitudinal study, presented on the Scottish Executive website.

  • 20th March 2006

    The Rose Review Final Report

    The Rose Review Final Report The online version of the final report and recommendations made by Jim Rose and his team, on the DfES Standards Site.

 

Customer Reviews

  • Alison Hughes, Bagshot Infant School, Reception Teacher

    "This [Rigby Star Fast Phonics First Reception: Years 1 and 2 CD-ROM] is a brilliant resource for delivering the new phonics programme. I would recommend the investment and hope that the next resource available will be the books on CD for use with a whiteboard."

  • Mrs Kendall, Primary School, Teaching Assistant

    "We have recently bought [the Rigby Star Phonics Guided Readers Easy Buy Pack, Framework Edition] and found the books very charming, value for money and interesting. The children have loved them."

  • Primary 2 Teacher - Participated within the Clackmannanshire study

    "Best results ever achieved — never seen before in 30 years of teaching. One child writing own story aged 4. Writing and spelling amazing. I would normally have expected such work at Primary 3 stage. Children were also motivated."

  • Primary 1 Teacher, Clackmannanshire, Scotland

    "Synthetic phonics (Fast Phonics First)has provided staff development opportunities alongside curricular development and has empowered both teachers and pupils."

 

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