A systematic synthetic phonics programme supports early reading and writing through structured teaching, story-based resources and fully decodable texts across the primary years.
Early literacy remains a core focus for primary schools, with emphasis on systematic approaches that support consistency, progression and evidence-informed practice. Rocket Phonics is a systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programme aligned to Letters and Sounds and designed to support learners from early years through to later stages of primary phonics instruction.
The programme uses a story-based approach, placing original texts and shared reading experiences at the centre of daily lessons. Authored by literacy expert Ms Abigail Steel, Rocket Phonics forms part of Reading Planet, a whole-school reading programme for learners aged three to 11. It is designed to provide schools with a complete phonics solution, incorporating teaching guidance, pupil resources, assessment tools and implementation support.
Programme design and delivery
Rocket Phonics is organised into three strands to support learners at different stages of early literacy development. First Steps, for children aged three to four, focuses on oral communication and phonemic awareness, introducing letter-sounds through nursery rhymes, phonics ditties and interactive activities. Big Book stories, flashcards and Activity Booklets support early mark making, letter recognition and emergent handwriting.
The Rocket Phonics SSP programme, for children aged four to six, provides a validated systematic synthetic phonics sequence. Teaching follows a clear weekly structure, alternating between blending for reading and segmenting for spelling and writing. Fully decodable texts are used throughout shared, guided and independent reading, with capital letters introduced alongside lower-case letters.
Rocket Phonics Next Steps, for learners aged six to seven, consolidates and extends phonics knowledge with increased emphasis on spelling, writing and age-appropriate literacy skills. Colour-banded resources support whole-class teaching, alongside additional practice readers for targeted consolidation.
Rocket Phonics is delivered through an online and offline hybrid model. Schools access planning, teaching materials, assessments and guidance via an online platform, while continuing to use printed classroom resources in daily practice. Resources include flashcards, Big Book stories, Pupil Practice Booklets, fully decodable reading books and Teacher’s Guides. Flashcards use picture mnemonics and photographic images to support phonemic awareness and vocabulary, while Big Books place phonics instruction within original stories.
Assessment is embedded across the programme and includes baseline, half-termly and mini-assessments, supported by tracking guidance within the Teacher’s Guides.
Intervention, professional learning and support
Rocket Phonics includes additional intervention resources for learners requiring further support. An intervention guidance document is available via the online platform, providing structured advice on identifying need and supporting targeted instruction alongside whole-class teaching.
The programme also supports inclusive practice through professional learning focused on special educational needs and disability (SEND). A series of webinars hosted by the programme author explored SEND considerations within phonics teaching and are available on YouTube.
Professional development for Rocket Phonics is currently delivered online and includes recorded sessions and video-based training led by the programme author, supporting subject knowledge, pedagogy and assessment.
In Australia, Rocket Phonics is distributed by Lioncrest, which provides local support and offers further information and bespoke programme packages aligned to individual school contexts.
Join the community
Share ideas, talk to other schools and get questions answered in the Reading Planet Rocket Phonics Teachers Group on Facebook.
For more information including bespoke packages, visit https://lioncrest.com.au/products/reading-planet/
