Rather than follow the example of England and introduce synthetic phonics into its curriculum, many schools in Northern Ireland have opted instead for the newly developing pedagogic strategy called 'Linguistic Phonics', with some impressive results.
Linguistic Phonics (LP) is a way into reading and writing designed to offer children a systematic approach that draws on their existing knowledge and their individual ways of learning. The word 'linguistic' indicates that the approach is linked to the scientific study of natural language, which offers a refreshing alternative to synthetic phonics. The central tenet of LP, in common with the first stage of Letters and Sounds, is that children need to grasp the relationship between spoken language and the written word. It is understood that this depends on significant experience of speaking and listening and a wish to communicate, as well as a growing awareness and appreciation of the purposes of literacy.
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