How We Did It: Building a Phonics Program for Schools

1. The Need for a Phonics Program

Early literacy is the cornerstone of every child’s academic journey. At ePlatform, we recognised that many schools lack a consistent, structured approach to teaching reading. Too often, students struggle with decoding words because foundational skills aren’t effectively developed, often due to the absence of high-quality, research-backed resources that support this essential learning stage.

Why Our Program Was Needed:

Struggling Readers: Without a robust phonics curriculum, young learners can fall behind, missing the critical steps needed to develop fluency.
Teacher Challenges: Educators are pressed for time and need engaging, easy-to-implement tools and resources that have been proven to work.
Parental Concerns: Parents want to know that their children are receiving instruction that truly builds long-lasting and effective reading skills.

Research shows that systematic synthetic phonics programs significantly improve a child’s ability to decode, comprehend, and enjoy reading. This is why we set out to design a program that integrates systematic synthetic phonics to build phonemic awareness and phonics skills, while also nurturing comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency—all in one cohesive package.

This comprehensive approach is increasingly being adopted by schools and literacy specialists. For example, in Victoria, Australia, initiatives like Phonics Plus highlight the growing demand for innovative, research-backed literacy solutions that deliver measurable results in early reading.

2. Designing the Curriculum

Designing the curriculum for our phonics program was much like constructing a well-built structure—it required a strong foundation, careful planning, and collaboration with experts.

At ePlatform, we set out to create a series of engaging decodable books and structured literacy resources that guide children through the progressive development of essential reading skills, from phonemic awareness and phonics to fluency and comprehension.

Understanding that every child has unique interests, we made sure to design both fiction and non-fiction series, ensuring that every child finds something they are excited to read. Each resource is designed to work seamlessly together, ensuring that young learners build confidence and competence in their reading journey.

We also kept teachers in mind throughout the design process—after all, they’re the ones who will be using the program in the classroom! With clear, straightforward guidelines and ready-to-use resources, we’ve ensured that teachers have everything they need to implement the program confidently and efficiently, making their job smoother and more impactful.

Our Design Process:

Our Expert Team: Our team of highly qualified professionals, with years of experience in both Primary and Special Education, ensured that every aspect of the program is rooted in real classroom experience. Their expertise in teaching literacy has guided the development of resources that are not only effective but also engaging and accessible for young learners.
Collaboration with Educators: Throughout the development of our literacy materials, we collaborated closely with schools and literacy experts. These insights helped shape our program to ensure it meets the practical needs of classrooms and incorporates the most effective, research-backed teaching practices.
Clear Learning Objectives: Our curriculum is carefully structured to align with the Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) approach. We’ve broken down reading skills into manageable steps—starting with phonemic awareness and progressing to word blending—ensuring that each book builds on the previous one, providing students with a strong foundation in reading. This progression is clearly mapped out in our Scope and Sequence.

At the heart of our curriculum are engaging decodable readers. We have meticulously crafted these titles to include a mix of structured literacy tools and captivating fictional characters—like Pip and Pat—who lead young readers on exciting adventures. By combining a strong academic foundation with fun, narrative-driven content, we make reading an enjoyable and immersive experience.

3. Bringing the Program to Life

After months of thoughtful planning and curriculum design, we were excited to take the next step—bringing our program into the classroom. This gave us the opportunity to see our decodable books and literacy resources in action, allowing us to refine them based on valuable feedback from both teachers and students.

Steps in Our Implementation:

Teacher Training: We connected with schools that already used ePlatform's digital library of eBooks and audiobooks. We worked closely with educators to introduce them to our decodable readers and structured literacy resources, offering hands-on demonstrations and guidance to ensure they could effectively integrate the program into their classrooms.
Classroom Testing: We engaged with teachers directly, collecting their feedback through classroom observations and discussions to understand how the program supported both their teaching and their students' reading progress.
Iterative Refinement: The feedback we received was crucial. Initially focused on fiction, we expanded the program to include a non-fiction series, better catering to the diverse interests of students. Teachers also suggested adding more interactive tools, so we created phonics games tailored to each book, enhancing engagement and comprehension. We also learned that physical copies would be beneficial for students to take home, so we began working on print versions.

The testing phase confirmed that our decodable readers phonics program was both feasible and effective. Teachers shared positive feedback about the ease of implementation and observed noticeable progress in students' reading abilities. The combination of engaging stories and targeted phonics instruction created a strong foundation, making a tangible impact on early literacy development.

4. Challenges and Lessons Learned

Our journey of building an effective phonics program was filled with hurdles that ultimately helped us refine our approach and produce a more effective curriculum. These challenges allowed us to continuously improve the program, ensuring it was both impactful for students and easy to implement for teachers.

Challenges We Faced:

Varying Educational Standards: We aimed to make our program accessible internationally, where literacy instruction standards can vary widely. In addition, different states and schools often adopt different methods for teaching reading. As a result, we had to design a flexible curriculum that could adapt to various educational standards while maintaining a structured, research-backed approach.
Adapting to Diverse Learning Styles: Early on, we discovered that not all students learn in the same way. Some thrive with visual aids, while others benefit more from auditory or hands-on experiences. To address this, we continuously refined our decodable books and literacy resources, ensuring that our program could cater to every learner's needs, regardless of their preferred learning style.
Maintaining Student Engagement: Introducing new phonics concepts to young readers is one thing; keeping them engaged is another! Teachers expressed concerns about sustaining interest and motivation over time. In response, we introduced interactive features like clickable words that allow students to hear them sounded out phonetically, along with a colourised read-along and region-specific voiceovers.

What We Learned:

Flexibility Is Key: The challenge of adapting to varying educational standards taught us the importance of designing a curriculum that is both flexible and research-driven. We learned that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work in literacy instruction, and we needed to build a program that could easily adjust to the unique needs of different regions, schools, and classrooms.
Incorporating Multiple Learning Modalities: We discovered that by offering a mix of visual, auditory, and hands-on learning opportunities, we could create a more inclusive experience for all students, ensuring that every learner could engage with the program in the way that worked best for them.
Keeping Learning Fun and Engaging: We learned that keeping students motivated is just as important as teaching them phonics. Features like audio-supported word decoding, colourised read-alongs, and region-specific voiceovers helped create an immersive experience that kept students engaged while reinforcing key literacy skills.

These lessons highlighted the importance of ongoing improvement. As the needs of teachers and students evolve, we’re constantly looking for new ways to enhance our program. By staying adaptable and responsive, we ensure we’re supporting literacy in the most effective way possible.

5. Evolving Our Approach

Education is always evolving, and so is the way we teach reading. Our decodable readers program is built to adapt and grow, staying in step with the latest research, shifting classroom needs, and advancements in teaching tools.

What's Next for Our Program:

More Non-Fiction Titles: We’re expanding our collection of decodable readers with more non-fiction books—something that’s been in high demand! These are already in the works and will be releasing soon, so keep an eye on our socials for an announcement on their release.
New Interactive Tools: We’re developing even more resources for both teachers and students, adding to our growing collection of engaging, research-backed learning tools.
Your Feedback Matters: We’re always looking for ways to improve. If you have ideas for new resources or features, let us know through our contact form—we’d love to hear from you!

As we look ahead, our goal remains the same—to make learning to read easier, more effective, and more engaging for every child. Through ongoing research, new resources, and valuable input from educators and students, we’re committed to continuously improving and evolving our program to better support the classrooms that rely on it every day.

— Happy Reading!