Rhyme Time

A simple, fun guide that prepares

your child for reading

 

Research shows that simply singing nursery rhymes can build the foundation for your child's future reading ability. Knowing rhymes helps children develop their language skills and become aware of the different sounds that make up words.

As part of your child’s Reception year, we are running a programme called "Rhyme time" to prepare and support them in their phonics lessons.

What is "Rhyme time" in school?

In the classroom, children will learn a bank of 20 different nursery rhymes throughout the school year. Every week a new nursery rhyme is taught and sung every day in school. The teachers use Little Wandle resources that focus on one of each of the five key skills:

• Listening: Tuning in to different sounds.
• Syllables: Clapping out the 'beats' in a word (like but-ter-fly).
• Rhyming: Noticing words that end with the same sound (like cat and mat).
• Alliteration: Noticing words that start with the same sound (like bouncy bear).
• Sound Knowledge: Learning the individual sounds within words.

 

The rhyme of the week is shared with parents every Friday.

Our goal is for every child to leave Reception knowing many rhymes by heart!

 

 How You Can Help at Home

The best part is that you already have everything you need to support this learning at home!

 Sing Them Together The most important thing you can do is sing the rhymes with your child. The more familiar they are with the words and rhythms, the better.

 

Access the Resources

Your child's school uses a specific set of resources from the © 2025 Wandle Learning Trust; Little Wandle Foundations programme. You can access all the same songs your child is learning in school:

• Visit the Website: The parent area of their website has all 20 of the short, subtitled videos the children watch in class.
• Link: https://www.littlewandle.org.uk/resources/my-letters-and-sounds/weekly-reading-and-phonics/reception-2/reception-rhyme-time-and-interactions-developing-language/
• Download the Words: You can also download and print copies of the rhymes to read together.

 

Simple Games to Play

You don't need fancy equipment to build language skills. Try these ideas using rhymes you know:

• Clap the Beats: When you sing a rhyme, clap along to the syllables (the 'beats').
• Say it Silly: Say a line from a rhyme in a very slow voice, a very fast voice, or a very quiet voice, and have your child copy you.
• Rhyme Detectives: Say two words (like Humpty and Dumpty) and ask your child if they rhyme.