Our take
A free 78-minute online course from Sounds-Write, a UK linguistic phonics program, covering the first seven units of its Initial Code: how to help your child build, write and read simple three-letter words. It is a starting point, not a full program, and stops before blends and digraphs.
A good fit for
- Parents who want to learn how to start at no cost
Look elsewhere if
- Anything beyond three-letter words
How far it goes
About the skill ladder- 7Latin and Greek rootsconstruct, phonographNot taught
- 6Prefixes, suffixes and spelling ruleshopping, unkindNot taught
- 5Multisyllable wordsnapkin, fantasticNot taught
- 4Vowel patternscake, rain, carNot taught
- 3Blends and digraphsstop, ship, chinNot taught
- 2Short-vowel wordscat, sit, hopTaught
- 1Letter soundsm says /m/Partly
How it works
How we rate- Who hears your child read?
- You doYour child reads to you or a teacher, who judges each word.
- Does your child spell?
- Writes from dictationChildren build and write the words.
- What do they read?
- No story library confirmedRecommends pairing it with decodable books.
- How is progress gated?
- No gatingChildren can move on without showing mastery.
- How much of your time?
- You teach itYou sit with your child for every lesson.
- What does the evidence show?
- No outcome studyNo study of the course; Sounds-Write is on England's validated phonics list.
Watch-outs
- Recorded in 2020 with a UK presenter.
How it compares
| App | Price | Goes up to | Hears reading | Spelling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sounds-Write parent course | Free | Short-vowel words | You do | Writes from dictation |
| Reading Horizons At-Home | $199 for the first year, then $50/yr; $25 per extra student; $10 30-day trial | Multisyllable words | No automated listening | Writes from dictation |
| Reading.com | $12.49–$14.99/mo or $74.99/yr | Vowel patterns | You do | Picks letters or answers |
| Phonics Hero | US$36 per 6 months on the web, or US$6/mo in the app | Multisyllable words | No automated listening | Picks letters or answers |
| Funnix Beginning Reading | $24.99/mo family plan (up to 3 children); free trial lessons | Multisyllable words | You do | Writes from dictation |
Sources
Checked October 2026 against the maker's own pages and the sources above. Spot something out of date? Tell us.