Read Write Inc. FAQs

Created by Ruth Miskin, Read Write Inc. has been designed to transform the teaching of reading and writing in schools. It includes five programmes for use in primary schools: Read Write Inc. Phonics (including Phonics for Nursery), Read Write Inc. Fresh Start (which can also be used in secondary schools), Read Write Inc. Spelling, Read Write Inc. Comprehension, and Read Write Inc. Literacy and Language.

Read Write Inc. provides a systematic and consistent approach to your teaching of reading and writing. High quality training and ongoing professional development is provided by Ruth Miskin Training, and resources are published by us, Oxford University Press.

Find out more about Read Write Inc.

Developed by Ruth Miskin, Read Write Inc. Phonics is a high-impact phonics programme that transforms reading and writing for every child. Used in over 8,000 UK Primary schools, Read Write Inc. Phonics is a DfE validated Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP). It uses a whole school approach to teaching early reading and writing. Read Write Inc. ensures progress for every child, in every primary school.

Ruth Miskin Training provide high-quality training and Professional Development. The training is integral to the success of the programme.

Resources are published by us at Oxford University Press. They include matched decodable reading books for both fiction and non-fiction. Other resources include: flashcards, posters, word cards, Book Bag Books, Handbooks, online teaching resources and eBooks. We provide everything you need to teach Read Write Inc. effectively.

Find out more about Read Write Inc. Phonics

Read Write Inc. Phonics teaches children to read accurately and fluently with good comprehension. They learn to form each letter, spell correctly, and compose their ideas step-by-step.

See the Read Write Inc. Phonics teaching sequence

Read Write Inc. Phonics is used in more than 8,000 schools across the UK. Ruth Miskin Training have over 100 expert trainers working in schools to ensure reading progress for every child.

Here’s what some schools have to say about Read Write Inc.:

“We want all our pupils to develop extraordinary reading habits. Simply put - Read Write Inc. Phonics makes this possible.”
Venessa Willms, Director of Education, Ark Primary

“Our children make progress in reading regardless of their background, language or SEND status.”
Grange Lane Infant Academy, Doncaster

The results for the 2022 Phonics Screening Check in Read Write Inc. schools show excellent performance against the national average score of 75%. 62 trusts around the country are using Read Write Inc., here are the 2022 PSC results for six of them:

• 2022 Ark PSC results: 87%
• 2022 DRET PSC results: 89%
• 2022 Every Child Matters PSC results: 82%
• 2022 Harris PSC results: 93%
• 2022 Outwood PSC results: 92%
• 2022 Paradigm PSC results: 87%

You can read more about the impact of Read Write Inc. Phonics on our case studies page.

You can find out more about the impact of Read Write Inc. on our case studies page.

Yes. Read Write Inc. Phonics was revalidated by the Department for Education (DfE) in England as a complete SSP in July 2021. This means that it meets all the DfE criteria for an effective systematic synthetic phonics programme.

Yes, Read Write Inc. Phonics was revalidated by the DfE in July 2021 for schools in England.

Yes. You can read more about how Read Write Inc. Phonics meets National Curriculum requirements in the documents below:

Yes, please see this document on how Read Write Inc. Phonics meets the requirements of the new Ofsted framework. (England) for more information.

We recommend parents and carers take a look at the dedicated Read Write Inc. Phonics page on Oxford Owl for Home. This includes information and free resources to support children’s learning at home.

As part of the Read Write Inc. Phonics Online subscription on Oxford Owl, schools can download two Parent Booklets which explain how parents can support their child with reading at home. The parent booklets have been translated into 12 different languages to support EAL families.

If you’re in the UK, you can book an appointment using this form. You can also search for your local consultant using your postcode on this page.

International customers should visit this page.

Read Write Inc. Phonics can be used effectively with children from the age of 4, in their last term at Nursery before starting Reception (P1). Most children start in Reception (P1) and complete the programme in Year 2 (P3). Read Write Inc. Phonics is suitable for children up to Year 4 (P5).

For older children, Read Write Inc. Fresh Start may be more suitable. It offers age-appropriate materials to accelerate reading progress.

Yes. Read Write Inc. Phonics is suitable for use up to Year 4 (P5). In Years 5 and 6 (P6 and 7), we recommend using the Read Write Inc. Fresh Start programme. This is a systematic synthetic phonics programme with texts that are age-appropriate for children in those years.

Yes. SEND children can be taught in a group using Read Write Inc. Phonics, or individually following Fast Track Tutoring. Fast Track Tutoring breaks down Read Write Inc. Phonics into small, incremental steps to help children who need extra support – including those who have SEN/D.

Read Write Inc. Phonics resources are simple and limit distraction. Children learn the routines and behaviours necessary for each activity, and practise these until they use them automatically. This allows them to focus on learning to read and write.

Ruth Miskin Training provides bespoke training and support for teachers working with children who are predicted to make slower progress in learning to read. This includes schools for children with SEND. More information on the Ruth Miskin Training website

The Fast Track Tutoring programme, part of Read Write Inc. Phonics, provides targeted support for children who are in the lowest progress group and need extra daily practice in reading sounds and words.

Training films and teaching notes are available as part of the Ruth Miskin Training Online Subscription. They provide detailed guidance on accelerating children’s reading progress through the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme.

Training films and teaching notes are available as part of the Ruth Miskin Training Online Subscription. They provide detailed guidance on accelerating children’s reading progress through the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme.

For children in Years 5 and 6 (P6 and 7), we recommend using Read Write Inc. Fresh Start This is a systematic synthetic phonics programme with texts that are age-appropriate for children in those year groups.

Teachers can send home black and white versions of the Core Storybooks used in class, and Book Bag Books aligned to each stage of the programme.

There are also More Storybooks and non-fiction books if children need more practice.

An eBook library containing the Core Storybooks, plus some non-fiction titles and phonics practice activities can be used for children with access to a digital device at home.

For children at the start of the programme, there are 10 Sound Blending Book Bag books available and 28 Ditty Sheets to print off from the Read Write Inc. Phonics Online subscription.

The Read Write Inc. Phonics Core Storybooks are the main route through the programme and follow the phonic progression of Read Write Inc.

The More Storybooks offer additional practice to support fluency and consolidation.

Training and Professional Development for Read Write Inc. is managed and delivered by Ruth Miskin Training. Please visit the Ruth Miskin Training website to find out more.

Ruth Miskin Training's Online Subscription gives year round access to training and practice films. It also includes tutoring support, Reading Leader resources, and much more. The Virtual Classroom has over 600 Speed Sound lesson films that can be sent home for extra practice.

Find out more on the Ruth Miskin Training website.

There are currently four different Read Write Inc. annual subscriptions available on Oxford Owl for School: Read Write Inc. Phonics Online, Read Write Inc. Phonics eBook Library, Read Write Inc. Spelling Online, and Read Write Inc. Literacy and Language Online.

Teachers can also register with Oxford Owl for School for free access to a small number of resources from all Read Write Inc. Programmes.

Find out more on the Find out more about Read Write Inc. subscriptions on Oxford Owl.

Yes. Schools can subscribe to the Read Write Inc. Phonics eBook Library on Oxford Owl for access to 109 Read Write Inc. Phonics eBooks. These include the Core Storybooks, plus some non-fiction titles.

Subscribers can also access end-of-book quizzes for each eBook, plus interactive activities for phonics practice at home. Teachers can assign eBooks to individual pupils, groups of pupils, or a whole class. Teachers can also track what they have read, helping to ensure that children are reading books at exactly the right phonic level.

There is also a selection of free Read Write Inc. eBooks on Oxford Owl for School. These are separate to the main eBook Library Subscription. Once logged in to Oxford Owl as a teacher, the free eBooks can be found by clicking on ‘eBooks’ in the top navigation bar, and then ‘Free Read Write Inc. eBooks selection’. Teachers can set up a simple Class Login for children to access these eBooks from home.

Please visit Oxford Owl to log in to your account, or register.

Please visit the Oxford Owl support site for technical support. You can also contact the Oxford Owl support team. Their contact details are on this page.

Read Write Inc. Phonics is used widely in international schools. It provides a solid foundation in reading and other core literacy skills including spelling, comprehension and writing. Teachers have told us that their students enjoy the class routines, oral activities and partner work. Read Write Inc. Phonics builds children’s confidence and independence in reading. It also supports their understanding of the wider curriculum.

Read Write Inc. Phonics is a highly effective literacy programme that works extremely well in an EAL (English as an Additional Language) context. Its systematic teaching methodology ensures that all children understand what is expected of them at any given time during the lesson. It provides children with strategies to start decoding unfamiliar words right away. Once children have started to acquire some phonics knowledge, they have the confidence to tackle stories in English. Children love the sense of achievement that comes from being able to decode words by themselves!

All training for Read Write Inc. is provided by Ruth Miskin Training. Ruth Miskin Consultant Trainers work with schools all over the world. The Blended Training Package for International schools combines online training and remote support, with the option of face-to-face training where possible. Learn more about the training options for international schools on the Ruth Miskin website.