Junior Learning · Non-Fiction Decodable Readers · Letters & Sounds
Real-world reading practice that grows with their phonics
Help children practise decoding through fascinating non-fiction books carefully written around the sounds and phonics patterns they have already been taught.
Clear photographic images and factual topics give developing readers another reason to keep turning the page while they build reading confidence through controlled decodable text.
Phonics practice meets real-world discovery
Why choose non-fiction decodable readers?
Practise phonics they know
Controlled text gives children opportunities to apply sounds and phonics patterns that have already been introduced.
Clear photographic images
Real photographs bring the topics to life while children practise reading increasingly independently.
Read to discover
Non-fiction gives children opportunities to practise decoding while learning about factual and real-world subjects.
Find the right reading stage
The six-phase reading journey
Choose the phase according to the phonics knowledge the child has already been taught rather than relying on age alone.
Phonemic Awareness
Speaking, listening and developing awareness of sounds in words.
Letter Sounds
Introduces the first letter sounds within the progression.
Phonics
Builds a wider bank of letter sounds and phonics patterns.
Blends
Develops reading of adjacent consonants and consonant blends.
Vowel Sounds
Introduces alternative vowel sounds and additional letter patterns.
Spelling
Consolidates earlier phonics and develops spelling patterns, suffixes and endings.
Age is only a guide
Approximate phase guidance
Non-fiction or fiction?
Both practise decoding — choose the reading style they enjoy
Non-Fiction
You are viewing the non-fiction library. Children practise decoding through photographic images, factual topics and real-world content.
Fiction
Fiction readers give children opportunities to practise the same developing decoding skills through illustrated stories, characters and imaginative situations.
Home reading • classroom libraries • literacy support
A flexible way to add more reading practice
At home
Match books to the phonics being taught at school so children can practise the same skills through another reading format.
In the classroom
Suitable for classroom libraries, small-group reading, literacy practice and home-reading programs.
For fact-loving readers
Non-fiction can provide valuable variety for children who are particularly motivated by factual and real-world topics.
Detailed phonics reference
What is covered in each phase?
Open a phase below if you need to check the detailed sounds and spelling patterns without having them fill the whole product page.
Phase 1 — Phonemic Awareness, Speaking & Listening
Focuses on phonemic awareness, speaking and listening before progressing into the individual letter-sound sequence.
Phase 2 — Letter Sounds
s a t p i n m d g o c k ck e u r h b f ff l ll ss
Phase 3 — Phonics
j v w x y z zz qu ch sh th ng ai ee igh oa oi oo ow ar air ear er ur or ure
Phase 4 — Blends
st nd mp nt nk ft sk lt lp lf lk pt xt tr dr gr cr br fr bl fl gl pl cl sl sp sw tw sm pr sc sn nch scr shr spr str thrt
Phase 5 — Vowel Sounds
ay ou ie ea oy ir ue aw wh ph ew oe au ey a-e e-e i-e o-e u-e /zh/
Phase 6 — Spelling
-s -es -ing -ed -ful -er -est -en -y -ly
Helpful answers
Non-Fiction Decodable Reader FAQs
What are decodable readers?
Decodable readers use carefully controlled text so children can practise reading words using phonics knowledge they have already been taught.
What makes these non-fiction readers different?
The non-fiction range combines controlled decodable text with photographic images and factual or real-world topics.
Should I choose the phase by age?
Age can be a useful general guide, but the child's current phonics knowledge is more important. Choose the phase containing the sounds and patterns they have already been taught.
What versions can I choose on this page?
The current product options are Set 1, Set 2, Science and Real World. Select your preferred version above the Add to Cart button.
Are the student workbooks included?
No. The workbooks are separate resources and can be chosen by phase using the links above.
Should children read fiction as well as non-fiction?
Both formats can provide useful decoding practice. Fiction offers stories and imaginative situations, while non-fiction provides factual and real-world reading. Offering both can give children more variety in their reading practice.
