Levels 16 & 17

Alternative Spelling – Set 4

Levels 16 and 17 continue to refine children’s understanding of alternative spellings for vowel sounds. At this stage, children learn to recognise and apply a broader range of spelling patterns for the same sounds, supporting accurate reading, spelling, and confident comprehension of more complex texts.

Learning remains supported by interactive phonics games on iOS and Android, ensuring structured practice and consolidation.

Completion of Levels 1A–15, or equivalent phonics and reading knowledge, is recommended.

What Will My Child Learn in Level 16 & 17?

In Levels 16 and 17, children explore additional spelling patterns used to represent long vowel sounds in English.

Alternative Spellings Covered

• igh, i, y, ie, i_e

• oa, o, ow, o_e

Children learn to:

• Recognise multiple spellings for the same vowel sound

• Apply flexible decoding strategies when reading

• Read unfamiliar words with increased accuracy

• Strengthen connections between reading and spelling patterns

Key Skills Your Child Will Develop

By the end of these levels, your child will be able to:

• Read words with varied vowel spellings confidently

• Understand that spelling choices influence pronunciation

• Improve reading fluency and accuracy

• Develop stronger spelling awareness for complex vowel patterns

These skills support advanced, independent reading.

Learning Through Games & Practice

All spelling patterns taught in Levels 16 and 17 are reinforced through interactive games and structured activities on iOS and Android.

Children practise by:

• Comparing different vowel spellings in words

• Reading words and short passages in context

• Repeating activities that build automatic recognition

The guided, game-based approach ensures mastery while keeping children motivated.

Who Is This Level For?

• Children who have completed Levels 1A–15

• Confident readers ready to handle advanced vowel spelling patterns

• Children focusing on accuracy, fluency, and spelling development

These levels are ideal for children progressing toward fluent, independent reading and writing.

Why These Levels Are Important

Levels 16 and 17 address complex vowel spelling variations that frequently appear in real texts. Mastering these patterns reduces reading hesitation, improves accuracy, and equips children with the skills needed for confident reading, spelling, and long-term literacy success.

Please note: The pricing plans below apply only to Phase 5 (Levels 16 & 17). Children will learn the following graphemes and phonemes: igh, i, y, ie, i_e, oa, o, ow, o_e, with regular review sessions built in. This phase is typically taught over 11 sessions, each lasting 30–40 minutes: 9 teaching sessions plus 2 dedicated review sessions to support consolidation and confidence.