Hi, I’m Emmy, the creator of Play Phonics with Sammy Sounds and I’m on a mission to make sure every child learns to read confidently and joyfully.

As someone who struggled with learning to read as a child, I know how crippling it can feel to lack confidence in reading. I wanted to change that experience for other children, which is why I created Play Phonics with Sammy Sounds—a programme that blends phonics teaching with drama to make learning fun, accessible, and joyful.

Play Phonics was founded in 2013, so we have spent over 10 years using drama to teach phonics, and the results speak for themselves. Children who once dreaded reading are now excited to dive into Phonics Land, where the sky is golden, and even glitter rains down! Drama helps children let go of their fears of getting things wrong, allowing them to engage fully and build confidence in a way traditional methods can’t. The impact is incredible -children are not only learning to read, but they’re doing it with joy and confidence.

Sammy Sounds grew out of my experience as an actor and as a teaching assistant in primary schools. I saw first-hand how children who struggled with sitting still for long periods or listening during carpet time often lost confidence in their reading abilities. It became clear to me that a more interactive, playful approach was needed. This led to the creation of Sammy Sounds, a programme that uses drama to make phonics learning dynamic, engaging, and, most importantly, enjoyable.

I’m proud of the difference Sammy Sounds has made to children’s learning over the last decade. And I’m excited to continue helping children thrive through the power of drama.