Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli is encouraging teachers to use a new guide, which will assist them in teaching students to read using phonics.

Mr Piccoli launched the Phonics Guide during a visit to South Coogee Public School with Member for Coogee Bruce Notley-Smith.

The guide is part of a series of NSW Government initiatives to improve student outcomes through Great Teaching, Inspired Learning, such as requiring teacher education courses to provide comprehensive phonics instruction.

“Research tells us teaching students the relationship between sounds and spelling patterns is crucial to the teaching of reading,” Mr Piccoli said.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government wants all teachers to use phonics as an essential part of early literacy programs.

“This guide provides every teacher in NSW with the skills and tools needed to teach students to read using phonics.”

Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards President Tom Alegounarias said the ability to use phonics is essential when developing reading skills in students.
“The guide has been developed to assist teachers new to the profession, as well as those with extensive classroom experience,” he said.

In addition to using phonics, South Coogee Public School is putting funds made available by the NSW Government signing up to the Gonski agreement toward further professional development in Literacy and Numeracy teaching.

“Principal Trish Fisher and her staff do a fabulous job – and have shown leadership and insight with their commitment to using phonics to help students develop reading skills,” Mr Notley-Smith said.