🌟 Why Speech Sound Mapping (SSM) Is the Neuroinclusive Alternative for Children Struggling with Synthetic Phonics 🌟
 

After 3 years of working through the UK's leading, most widely used synthetic phonics programme, Alf, an 8-year-old, still couldn’t read a simple sentence like “A cat in a mat.” His school had followed the programme with full fidelity, but it wasn’t working for him.

That’s why his parents requested that Speech Sound Mapping (SSM) be included in his Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plan, and his Educational Psychologist agreed! This is a logical and mathematical approach—designed by my neurospicy brain—for children who don’t thrive with traditional methods, including autistic, dyslexic, and non-speaking children. SSM was written into his EHC plan as a legal requirement and recognised as evidence-based, not only with regard to what children need to learn to read, but how.

Now, just 2 weeks into SSM, Alf is starting to find his way. The transformation isn’t complete yet, but the shift is clear: Alf can be heard in a clip saying how challenging it was for him before “the monsters”—our Phonemies (Speech Sound Monsters)—started making sense of the written code. He hadn’t thought he would ever learn to read.

These visual and linguistic aids have helped rewire Alf’s brain to map words effectively after his 4-week Phonemic Awareness Mastery programme at school, followed by summer sessions with his parents.
 

💡 What Makes SSM Different?

• Designed for Neurodivergent Learners: SSM was created for children who struggle with synthetic phonics programmes. It’s a neuroalternative that works for all children, including those who are non-speaking. They learn to use MySpeekie—#InnovateUKFunded as part of the programme.

• Phonemies (Speech Sound Monsters): These characters bring the written code to life both visually and linguistically, making the abstract tangible for children like Alf.

• Teacher and Parent Collaboration: Through the Train-a-Teacher approach, both teachers and parents record sessions and receive detailed feedback, ensuring that the support system grows with the child.

• Short, Effective Sessions: Daily activities take only 10-15 minutes, designed to keep children engaged while gradually building their capacity for independent reading with comprehension.
   

Alf’s story isn’t unique. So many children struggle with the rigidity of traditional synthetic phonics. SSM provides a fresh, flexible alternative that can be requested as part of an EHC plan, tailored specifically to neurodivergent learners.

Let’s rethink how we teach reading—because every child deserves a personalised approach that works for them.

🌟 My forthcoming book shows how this works—parents can immerse their children in spoken and written words from birth because of the Phonemies—and prevent their child from needing this support at school. Meanwhile, it is now an exciting option for parents seeking something different if their child is not loving synthetic phonics.
 

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#SpeechSoundMapping #SSM #Phonemies #Neurodiversity #InclusiveEducation #Autism #PhonicsTransformation #ReadingRevolution #EHCPlan #LiteracyIndependence