Articles on: Literacy

Jolly Phonics and PLD in Foundation and Year 1.

There are similarities and differences with the PLD and Jolly Phonics programs. In a direct comparison, the main difference is the sequence of sounds.

Both programs start Foundation with the same set of sounds: satpin.

The difference between the two programs here is that after the first set of sounds are taught, PLD will stop moving along in the sequence and engage students in repeated practice until students acquire 5/6 or 6/6 sounds, and then move on.


Both programs introduce digraphs to Foundation students.

PLD presents the alphabet in 4 groupings and then commences digraphs, separate to the alphabet sequence. These are not complex vowel digraphs, but simple consonant digraphs such as sh, ch, th etc (from Stage 1, Target 2).
With Jolly Phonics, digraphs are embedded within the alphabet sequence. These digraphs are complex vowel digraphs such as ai, oa, ie etc. Because of this, you can use the end of Term 1, 2 and 3 reading and spelling tests with Jolly Phonics. but you will find that the phonic sequences of the two programs are slightly different.


A major difference between the two programs.

PLD places strong emphasis on the pre-requisites for reading and writing. The phonemic awareness skills of blending and segmenting are imperative and as such PLD ensures these skills are taught to automaticity and wholly consolidated by students. Jolly Phonics, however, does not place the same emphasis on these skills.
For further reading, see the following article written by Louisa Moats and Carol Tolman titled:[ "Why Phonological Awareness is Important for Reading and Spelling."](https://www.readingrockets.org/article/why-phonological-awareness-important-reading-and-spelling)

Updated on: 26/04/2023

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