Levels 9A, 9B & 9C focus on alternative pronunciations of familiar graphemes. Children learn that the same spelling can sound different depending on the word and context. This supports self-correction, comprehension, and confident real-world reading.
Levels 9A, 9B & 9C
Alternative Pronunciations
Levels 9A, 9B, and 9C introduce children to alternative pronunciations in English. At this advanced stage of phonics learning, children discover that some letters and letter groups can be pronounced in more than one way depending on the word. These levels develop flexible reading strategies and help children become confident, independent readers who can adapt to real-world texts.
Learning continues to be supported by interactive phonics games on iOS and Android, ensuring structured practice and consolidation.
Completion of Levels 1A–8D, or equivalent phonics and reading knowledge, is recommended.
What Will My Child Learn in Level 9A, 9B & 9C?
In Levels 9A, 9B, and 9C, children learn how the same letter or grapheme can represent different sounds in different words.
Alternative Pronunciations Covered
• i, o, c, g, u
• ow, ie, ea
• er, a, y, ch, ou
Children learn to:
• Recognise alternative pronunciations in context
• Choose the correct sound based on the word
• Read unfamiliar words more accurately
• Develop flexible decoding and problem-solving skills
Key Skills Your Child Will Develop
By the end of these levels, your child will be able to:
• Read words with alternative pronunciations confidently
• Adjust pronunciation when the first attempt does not make sense
• Improve reading fluency and comprehension
• Develop strong word-attack and self-correction strategies
These skills are essential for fluent, independent reading.
Learning Through Games & Practice
All alternative pronunciations taught in Levels 9A, 9B, and 9C are reinforced through interactive games and structured activities on iOS and Android.
Children practise by:
• Comparing different pronunciations of the same letters
• Reading words in context
• Repeating activities that strengthen accuracy and confidence
The guided, game-based approach supports mastery while keeping children motivated.
Who Is This Level For?
• Children who have completed Levels 1A–8D
• Confident readers ready to handle spelling and pronunciation variations
• Children preparing for independent reading of real-world texts
These levels are ideal for children transitioning from phonics-based reading to fluent, natural reading.
Why These Levels Are Important
Levels 9A, 9B, and 9C reflect how English is used in real reading. Understanding alternative pronunciations reduces hesitation, improves comprehension, and equips children with the flexibility needed to read a wide range of books, subjects, and texts with confidence and accuracy.
Please note: The pricing plans below apply only to Phase 5 (Levels 9A, 9B & 9C). Children will learn the following graphemes and phonemes: i, o, c, g, u, ow, ie, ea, er, a, y, ch, ou, with regular review sessions built in. This phase is typically taught over 16 sessions, each lasting 30–40 minutes: 13 teaching sessions plus 3 dedicated review sessions to support consolidation and confidence.
