Hamilton

Code-Breakers

Code-Breakers is a synthetic phonics programme which teaches phoneme-to-grapheme correspondances in a systematic, child-friendly (and teacher-friendly) way. It is provided in the form of daily 10-15 minute sessions, which enable teachers to deliver the synthetic phonics of the Rose Review and Primary Framework in a logical and enjoyable way.

In 2000 Hamilton published the first version of Code-Breakers, written by Ruth Merttens, Darrell Wood and Ros Leather. Since then it has been revised in the light of teacher feedback and republished. It is therefore the only synthetic phonics programme written by teachers for teachers. At the suggestion of the DfES it was piloted nationally. We have more recently followed the self-accreditation process on the Standards website and our materials have been independently scrutinised.

Code-Breakers is based explicitly and consistently on phoneme-to-grapheme correspondances. This means that Code-Breakers starts with a sound (e.g. /l/) and teaches the children how that sound is represented in writing as a letter or set of letters (e.g. l, ll, le). Most children following Code-Breakers become good at encoding (writing using the sounds they have learned) before they are good at decoding (reading those graphemes). The phoneme-to-grapheme approach of Code-Breakers was chosen because it was supported by research as being the most effective way of teaching phonics in order to help children read and write (see Marilyn Adams, Beginning to Read).

All of the sessions for Reception, Years 1 & 2 can be downloaded from the site free to Friends of Hamilton. Hard copies and resources such as puppets, graphemes & picture cards can be purchased from Hamilton Education.