Crafting early readers at home

Recently, Apeejay School, Tanda Road, Jalandhar, conducted an informative and enlightening workshop for parents of tiny toddlers of the nursery, LKG, and UKG. The workshop was on the innovative Jolly Phonics programme which helped parents understand the concept of supporting the foundational skills of literacy in children. The move underlines the commitment of the school to an enabling environment for early years’ education to bloom through collaborative learning.

The methodology focused on teaching literacy through synthetic phonics — the Jolly Phonics. The programme was divided into two components, each aimed at specific developmental stages of young learners to suit their requirements and ensure effectiveness.

Parents participated in interactive sessions where they learnt the correct pronunciation of sounds, blending letters to form words, and using phonics to support their children in reading and writing at home. This approach not only demystifies the early stages of literacy but arms the parents themselves with resources to be actively involved in the education of their children.

Interactive Learning for Effective Outcomes

The workshop provided an avenue for parents to ask questions and share experiences, making it all very supportive. Facilitators emphasised the importance of consistency and fun when teaching phonics and suggested activities that parents can do at home to enforce learning. This interactive element of the workshop gave the parents a real sense of involvement in their child’s learning process.

By the end of the session, parents had gained a better understanding of the Jolly Phonics approach and felt more confident in supporting their children’s literacy development. It is the first time the school has called upon parents so directly into the educational framework that will not only enhance the learning outcomes for the children but build an informed community around the school, too.

Community Engagement and Continuous Support

The school takes a great deal of pride that community involvement and parental participation are the strong pillars of learning. After the workshop, the school will continue to conduct more sessions on this topic and make additional support material available online to parents. Learning, therefore, takes place outside the four walls of the classroom also when the parents are better equipped to participate in the educational journey of the child.

It was a unique gesture on the part of Apeejay School, Tanda Road, to have a Jolly Phonics workshop for parents. The school has continued to show commitment toward achieving excellence in education and community involvement momentum that is proving robust enough in effecting ideal early childhood education.