Looking for the best EYFS phonics resources for your nursery, preschool or Reception classroom?
We’ve researched some of the most useful phonics resources currently available in the UK, from Phase 1 listening and rhyming activities to magnetic letters, phonics games and early reading resources.
Whether you’re setting up a new EYFS classroom, refreshing your continuous provision or looking for resources to support phonics at home, this guide should help you choose resources that offer genuine educational value.
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Our Top EYFS Phonics Resources at a Glance
| Resource | Best for | Approx. price* |
|---|---|---|
| TTS Phonics Phase 1 Kit | Best complete Phase 1 resource | £275 |
| Play Makes Sense Phase 1 Activity Cards | Best budget-friendly activity resource | £14 |
| TTS Phase 1 Rhyming Bingo | Best phonics game | £7 |
| JoyCat Kids Learning Tablet | Best interactive phonics resource | £25 |
| Learning Resources Phonics Magnets | Best magnetic phonics resource | £18 |
| Findel CVC Bingo | Best CVC game | £23 |
| Letters & Sounds Phase 1 Wordless Readers | Best for early literacy | £15 |
| Yellow Door Lowercase Alphabet Pebbles | Best outdoor/sensory phonics | £30 |
*Prices checked in September 2026 and may change.
1. TTS Phonics Phase 1 Kit — Best Complete Resource
If you need a comprehensive Phase 1 phonics collection, this is our top choice for settings looking to invest in one.
This TTS Phonics Phase 1 Kit is difficult to beat; it covers several aspects of early phonological development in one purchase. It includes more than 40 wooden rhyming pieces, more than 70 illustrated initial-sound pieces, nursery rhyme materials, rhyming bingo, mirrors, and musical instruments, including drums, bells, maracas, and shakers.
Why we like it:
- Covers multiple areas of Phase 1
- Excellent for small-group activities
- Includes tactile wooden resources
- Supports rhyme and sound discrimination
- Can be used in nursery and Reception provision
- Particularly useful for settings wanting a ready-made collection
Age range: 3 – 5 years | Our verdict: 5/5
2. Play Makes Sense Phase 1 Phonics Activity Cards — Best Budget Buy
If your budget doesn’t stretch to a complete phonics kit this term, these activity cards are a much more affordable starting point.
The Play Makes Sense Phase 1 Phonics Activity Cards are currently listed at around £13.99 and are designed around practical Phase 1 phonics activities.
Why we like it:
- Encourages children to foster speaking and listening skills
- Helps encourage children to develop effective communication skills
- Allows practitioners to lay the foundations for future phonics success
- Can be used in continuous provision
Our verdict: 4.5/5 | Age range: 3-5 years.
3. TTS Phase 1 Rhyming Bingo — Best Phonics Game
Sometimes the simplest resources are the ones children return to again and again.
Rhyming bingo is an inexpensive way of encouraging children to listen carefully to words and identify rhyming sounds.
Why we like it:
- Aligns with the EYFS and Year 1 English curriculum.
- Designed to support phonics learning.
- Can be used in a setting or to support learning at home.
- Develops phonological awareness.
- Fosters active engagement and enjoyment in literacy development.
Our verdict: 4.5/5 | Age range: 5 – 11 years.
4. JoyCat Kids Learning Tablet — Best interactive phonics resource
This is a screen-free learning tablet which encourages children to engage using audio and visual pictures.
The tablet includes 156 pages of talking flashcards which are made from FSC-certified paper. This includes letters, short vowels, math, words, songs, vocabulary expansion, and phonics rules in an engaging way. It is educational play with no visual stress, and it’s screen-free. The tap-and-learn feature lets children engage with pictures and words.
Why we like it:
- Screen-free fun.
- Good for individual play or small-group phonics activities.
- Reinforces words and connections.
- Good for children beginning systematic phonics.
Our verdict: 4.5/5 | Age range: 2 – 6 years.
5. Learning Resources Phonics Magnets — Best Magnetic Phonics Resource
Magnetic letters are one of those resources that can earn their place in an EYFS classroom because they can be used in so many different ways.
Unlike a single-use worksheet, magnetic letters can become part of continuous provision. Put them on a magnetic board, whiteboard or accessible tray and children can return to them throughout the day.
Children can use them to:
- Recognise letters
- Match sounds and letters
- Build simple words
- Explore spelling
- Make their names
- Experiment with CVC words
Our verdict: 5/5 | Age range: 3+
6. Findel CVC Bingo — Best for CVC Words
This bingo game supports group learning in EYFS through to KS1 classrooms, helping young children practise blending and segmenting simple words while reinforcing letter sounds.
Why we love it:
- The game includes 6 playing boards and 54 colour-coded letter cards.
- The boards and cards are colour-coded to support correct letter positioning.
- Designed for small group activities in early years and primary settings.
- It supports the literacy curriculum, particularly CVC word recognition and spelling.
Our verdict: 4/5 | Age range 4 – 6 years
7. Letters & Sounds Phase 1 Wordless Readers — Best for Early Literacy
These pre-reading books are designed to develop language, communication, and vocabulary skills. Listen to the child as they turn each page, and have them retell the story in their own words. They have useful comprehension questions for practitioners or parents to support learning.
Contents: 8 pages per book.
8 Books with different topics:
1. Buying an Ice Cream
2. Baking a Cake
3. Shopping
4. Walking the Dog
5. Car Wash
6. Gardening
7. Doing the Dishes
8. Catching a Fish
Why we love it:
- Encourages an early love for reading.
- Good for pre-readers to use their own imagination.
- Great for group discussion.
- Books are designed around everyday life.
Our verdict: 4.5/5 | Age ranges: 2 – 5 years
8. Yellow Door Lowercase Alphabet Pebbles— Best for Outdoor & Sensory Provision
These Phonics Pebbles are a great way to connect phonics through play. They encourage children to explore phonics in a different way that doesn’t involve sitting at a table or in a group. These pebbles can be used in sand, water, mud kitchens, outdoor provisions or small world play.
Why we love it:
- Great for tuff trays and themed activities.tting because it can connect phonics with play.
- Made from real stone, they are durable for use in water, sand and dirt.
- Each pebble is engraved with a letter.
- Can be used continuously.
Our verdict: 4.5/5 | Age ranges: 2+ years
What Should You Buy First?
If your budget is limited, we’d recommend building your collection gradually.
Budget under £25
Start with:
- Rhyming game
- Phase 1 activity cards
- Magnetic letters
Budget around £50
Add:
- A phonics game
- CVC activity
- Additional sound resources
Budget around £100
Build a more complete phonics area with:
- Phase 1 activities
- Magnetic letters
- Rhyming games
- Initial sound resources
- CVC games
- Phonics books
Larger nursery/school budget
Consider a complete Phase 1 kit such as the TTS Phonics Phase 1 Kit, particularly if you’re establishing or significantly refreshing your provision.
Final Buying Advice
The best EYFS phonics resources aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest boxes or the most colourful packaging.
Look for resources that are:
✔ Playful
✔ Reusable
✔ Durable
✔ Age appropriate
✔ Easy to differentiate
✔ Suitable for small groups
✔ Useful within continuous provision
✔ Compatible with your setting’s phonics progression
And remember that phonics resources should support high-quality teaching and interaction rather than replace it. For Phase 1 particularly, singing, rhymes, conversation, listening games and playful sound exploration can be incorporated throughout the day.
Prices and availability checked September 2026. Always check the retailer’s current price before purchasing.