How to Choose a Phonics Class in Singapore: A Parent's Checklist

There are many phonics classes in Singapore, but the key is finding the right fit for your child.

Most parents begin looking when a concern arises. Perhaps your child is moving up to K1 and you are unsure whether they are ready. A teacher may have mentioned that they struggle to sound out words. Or perhaps a friend’s child has started reading, leaving you wondering whether you have waited too long.

Whatever brought you here, choosing a programme becomes easier once you understand what actually sets them apart. Here is the checklist we would share with any parent who asked us privately.

Which phonics class is best for my child?

The best phonics class for your child is one that matches their current literacy ability, teaches them to work out unfamiliar words and gives them a clear next step into reading with understanding. Look for an assessment before placement, a clear teaching method, guided practice and feedback on progress. The six questions below help you compare those features.

At I Can Read, phonics forms part of a broader literacy pathway. Reading Foundations develops sound awareness, vocabulary, listening, oral communication, blending, segmenting and decoding before formal reading. Champion Readers develops decoding, reading fluency, comprehension, grammar and communication across six progressive levels. Its diacritical marking system supports decoding, with the markings gradually removed as children become more independent readers.

If you are unsure what your child needs, an English Assessment helps identify an appropriate literacy programme and starting level. For more background, read what phonics is and how it fits into learning to read and how to teach your child to read.

Start with what your child needs, not what the centre offers

Before you compare anything, be clear on which of these you are solving for:

• They do not yet recognise letter sounds. You need a foundational programme, not a reading class.
• They know their sounds but cannot blend them into words. This is the most common sticking point, and the one a good phonics programme is designed for.
• They can read words but not sentences with understanding. Phonics alone will not fix this. You need a comprehension programme.
• They are about to start Primary 1 and you want them ready. This is a different brief again, and worth naming clearly when you enquire.

A centre that asks you which of these applies before recommending a class is telling you something useful about how they work.

The six things worth comparing

1. Is there a proper assessment before placement?

A programme that identifies the right level for your child before they begin is doing more than simply filling a class. Ask what the assessment covers, how long it takes and whether the results will be shared with you.

Children of the same age can have different reading skills. Ask for an assessment of your child’s current ability rather than choosing a literacy level by age alone.

2. What is the actual method?

Ask them to explain how they teach a child to get from letter sounds to reading a word. If the answer is vague, or leans on how much fun the children have, press once more. The answer should be specific and it should make sense to you in a sentence or two.

There are several legitimate approaches used in Singapore. What matters is that the centre can articulate theirs and apply it consistently.

3. Is it memorisation or decoding?

This is the question most parents do not think to ask, and it is the most important one.

Ask how the programme teaches children to use letter–sound relationships to work out unfamiliar words, while also building vocabulary, reading fluency and comprehension.

4. How big is the class?

Small groups are not automatically better, but class size does matter. Without enough individual attention, a child who is struggling may remain stuck. Ask how many children there are per teacher and what happens when one child falls behind the rest of the class.

5. Where does the programme lead?

Phonics is one part of learning to read. Ask what comes next as your child develops fluency and comprehension, whether those classes are available at your preferred centre, and how progress and placement are reviewed.

6. What training do the teachers receive?

A strong reading programme is supported by teachers who are trained in how children learn to read and how to deliver the programme effectively. Ask how teachers are trained in the centre’s methodology, curriculum and classroom approach, and whether they receive ongoing support to strengthen their teaching.

Two things not worth choosing on

Location alone. Convenience matters — but a suitable programme for your child is more important.

The lowest fee. Fees vary widely across Singapore, and the cheapest option may cost more in the long run if your child eventually needs to switch programmes.

Where I Can Read fits

Our Reading Foundations builds the essential pre-reading skills children need before they begin reading independently. Champion Readers builds on these foundations, developing independent reading, spelling, comprehension and early writing skills. Headstart to Primary 1 prepares K2 children for the transition to Primary School English, while our Primary English Programme continues their learning journey from Primary 1 to Primary 6, strengthening their English skills as they progress through primary school. Together, these programmes provide a progressive learning pathway that supports children from their earliest literacy foundations through to primary school, building their skills at every stage.

If you would like to know where your child sits, an English Assessment is the place to start. You can find your nearest centre or see all four programmes.

Where can my child learn phonics in Singapore?

At I Can Read, phonics is taught as part of broader literacy learning. Reading Foundations is the pre-reading programme for children building sound awareness and the skills needed before formal reading. Champion Readers is the reading programme for children ready to develop decoding, fluency and comprehension. Literacy placement follows your child’s current ability rather than age alone.

Start with an English Assessment, then use Find Our Centre to choose a practical location and ask which programme levels and class times are currently available. For K2 children preparing for school, explore Headstart to Primary 1. For children in Primary 1 to 6, Primary English provides school English support, with placement by school year and an assessment to identify strengths and gaps within that year.

Frequently asked questions