Stage 3 of 5 · Ages 4–5

KG 1 at home.

The year sounds turn into words. Letter sounds, blending three-sound words, numbers to 20, adding and taking away with real things.

Also called: Reception, Prep, Junior KG.

What this stage covers

  • Letter sounds, and blending them to read words like cat, sun and pin
  • The first tricky words: I, the, to, go, no, is
  • Writing their name and forming round letters correctly
  • Numbers to 20, adding and taking away within 10 using objects
  • Plants, growing up, weather, feelings
Every day: 10–15 minutes of games, 15 minutes of one activity, and a bedtime story where your child finds a word they know.
Ready to move on when: Your child can read simple three-letter words by sounding out, writes their first name, and adds two small groups of objects.
The units, in order

Work on one unit from each strand at a time.

Start at the top of each list. When your child can do most of a unit's checklist, move on to the next one in that strand.

Reading & talking

  1. 1 Letter Sounds: s a t p i n m dabout 4 weeks Say the sound for eight letters and hear them at the start of words. 🎮 Sound Start · Letter Pop · Letter Match · Sound Hunt
  2. 2 Blending Sounds into Wordsabout 4 weeks Blend three sounds together to read short words like sat, pin, map and dad. 🎮 Word Builder · Sound Hunt · Sound Start
  3. 3 More Sounds: g o c k e u r h b f labout 5 weeks Learn the next set of letter sounds and read more words with them. 🎮 Sound Hunt · Sound Start · Balloon Pop · Rhyme Time
  4. 4 Tricky Words 1about 3 weeks Read the first tricky words on sight: I, the, to, no, go, a, is, into. 🎮 Sight Words · Letter Match · Memory Match
  5. 5 Story Timeabout 3 weeks Retell a simple story in order using first, next and last, and answer questions about it. 🎮 Story Steps · Listen & Remember · What's Missing?
  6. 6 Show and Tellabout 2 weeks Speak in full sentences about something they care about, and listen and ask a question when others speak. 🎮 Listen & Remember · Story Steps · Feelings Friends

Writing & pencil control

  1. 1 Forming Lettersabout 5 weeks Form small letters correctly, starting in the right place, and write their first name. 🎮 Trace It · Dot to Dot · Match Paths

Numbers & shapes

  1. 1 Numbers to 20about 4 weeks Count and read numbers to 20, and say the number before and after. 🎮 Counting Stars · Number Train · Number Match · Ten-Frame Fill
  2. 2 Adding and Taking Awayabout 4 weeks Add two small groups and take some away, using objects and fingers, within 10. 🎮 Add & Take Away · Make the Number · Ten-Frame Fill
  3. 3 Measure Itabout 3 weeks Compare length, height, weight and capacity, and put three things in order. 🎮 Size Safari · Shape Builder · Sort It Out
  4. 4 Solid Shapesabout 2 weeks Name a sphere, cube, cuboid, cylinder and cone, and say which ones roll, slide and stack. 🎮 Shape Detective · Shape Builder · Shapes & Colors
  5. 5 Left, Right and Directionsabout 2 weeks Use first, second and third, and give and follow directions with forwards, backwards, left and right. 🎮 Position Quest · Number Train · Shape Detective

Science & our world

  1. 1 Growing Upabout 2 weeks Put the stages of growing up in order and look after their own body. 🎮 Living World · Five Senses · Helper Heroes
  2. 2 Healthy Food and Teethabout 2 weeks Sort foods into everyday and sometimes foods and look after their teeth. 🎮 Living World · Five Senses · Helper Heroes
  3. 3 Plants and Seedsabout 3 weeks Grow a plant from a seed and name its parts and what it needs. 🎮 Living World · Weather Watch · Eco Helpers
  4. 4 Animals and Their Babiesabout 2 weeks Match animals to their young, and describe how some animals grow and change. 🎮 Living World · Eco Helpers · Memory Match
  5. 5 Weather and Seasonsabout 2 weeks Describe the weather, choose clothes for it, and notice hot and cold changes. 🎮 Weather Watch · Hot & Cold Lab · Day & Night

Thinking & feelings

  1. 1 Patterns and Puzzlesabout 2 weeks Continue patterns of three (ABC) and growing patterns, and solve simple picture puzzles. 🎮 Pattern Parade · Odd One Out · Focus Farm · What's Missing?
  2. 2 Feelings and Friendsabout 2 weeks Name more feelings, use one way to calm down, and play fairly with others. 🎮 Feelings Friends · Focus Farm · Helper Heroes

All stages

Next stage: KG 2 →