At Banana Moon Day Nursery, we believe that every child’s journey into language and literacy should be filled with fun, curiosity, and confidence. Our approach to teaching phonics is carefully woven into the Early Learning and Development Plan (ELDP), ensuring that children develop the essential early communication and literacy skills they need for future success.




What Is Phonics and Why Is It Important?


Phonics is the foundation of learning to read and write. It helps children understand the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and the letters or groups of letters (graphemes) that represent them. By exploring these connections, children begin to decode words, recognise patterns, and build the confidence to express themselves through spoken and written language.




Our Approach at Banana Moon


At Banana Moon, phonics is introduced in a play-based, child-led way that sparks excitement and imagination. We don’t just “teach” phonics — we experience it! Through songs, stories, rhymes, and sensory activities, children naturally tune into the sounds around them.



Our team uses the Early Learning and Development Plan to guide each child’s progress, focusing on:


Listening and Attention – Encouraging children to notice sounds in their environment through games, music, and movement.

Understanding and Speaking – Building vocabulary and comprehension through storytelling, conversation, and role play.

Early Reading Skills – Introducing initial sounds, letter recognition, and blending simple words in engaging, age-appropriate ways.




Every Child, Every Stage


We know that each child develops at their own pace. That’s why our practitioners tailor phonics activities to suit different learning styles and developmental stages. From babbling and sound play in the baby room to sound sorting and early word recognition in the preschool room, phonics is a joyful part of every day.




Partnership with Parents


We believe learning continues beyond the nursery walls. Our team works closely with parents, sharing ideas and simple phonics activities that can be enjoyed at home — such as rhyming games, story time, and sound hunts. This partnership helps reinforce children’s growing skills and builds a lifelong love for reading.




Laying the Foundations for Lifelong Learning


By integrating phonics into the Early Learning and Development Plan, Banana Moon Day Nursery ensures that every child develops strong communication, listening, and early literacy skills — the stepping stones for confident, successful learners.



“Phonics at Banana Moon isn’t about worksheets — it’s about wonder. When children connect sounds to meaning through play, they begin to see reading as something magical,” says Stacey, Nursery Manager.