Literacy classes
Our literacy classes are organised into progressive levels that help children develop their reading, writing, and language skills step by step.
PLP is designed for children who already speak and understand English. If you are unsure whether this programme is suitable for your child, please refer to our section “Who is PLP for?” for further guidance.
We offer weekly 90-minute classes in small groups, using an internationally recognised approach to literacy, including Jolly Phonics. Lessons are structured and engaging, with a focus on building strong reading and writing skills.
Alongside classroom learning, children are encouraged to continue practising at home through simple weekly activities. In class, families can expect:
• Small classes (around 8 children)
• One teacher, with an assistant when needed
• All learning materials provided, including the well-known PLP “red bag”
• Weekly updates for parents with ideas to support learning at home
Many of our students go on to join the ENP programme in France from around age 8, while others continue with PLP alongside Swiss schooling until secondary school. The levels below outline the progression of our programme, from early literacy through to advanced reading and writing skills.
Level descriptions
Early Literacy
Children in Petite Section (France)
children begin developing early literacy skills through fun and engaging activities in a supportive environment.
Children take part in songs and rhymes, story time, creative activities, and crafts designed to extend their vocabulary, understanding, and confidence. The focus is on building strong reading readiness skills as preparation for the next stage of the programme.
Pre-Literacy
Children in 1P (Swizerland) or Moyenne Section (France)
We use the Jolly Phonics programme to teach children the phonic sound for each letter. This involves songs, games and fun activities to re-enforce learning and make it fun! Children will begin to identify the initial and end sounds in words and will begin utilising their knowledge to read CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) words.
Literacy 1
Children in 2P (Switzerland) or Grande Section (France)
Children continue to work within the Jolly Phonics programme, extending their understanding to blending phonic sounds and clusters. Children will learn to write CVC words and eventually read and write simple sentences.
Literacy 2
Children in 3P (Switzerland) or CP (France)
Children consolidate their phonic knowledge by reading and writing the most common phonemes, phonic sounds and spelling patterns. Children are introduced to simple grammar (verbs, nouns, adjectives etc.) and utilise their learning by writing simple sentences. Children are also introduced to character, plot and setting.
Literacy 3
Children in 4P (Switzerland) or CE1 (France)
By Literacy 3, children should be confidently using the Phonic system to decode, read and write and will move on to thematic units of work. Children will be developing grammar and language skills and will begin to use them within different writing genres: poetry, fiction and non-fiction writing as well as beginning to develop their speaking and listening skills to inform their writing (Talk for writing).
Literacy 4
Children in 5P (Switzerland) or CE2 (France)
Children will continue to develop and deepen their knowledge and understanding of sentence structure and grammar and employ these within different thematic units, based both in creative, fiction and non-fiction writing. There is an emphasis on skill-building which includes planning, drafting, writing and editing. Children are introduced to writing in paragraphs at this level too. Children are also encouraged to regularly use dictionaries and thesauruses. Children also begin to use inference and deduction when reading.
Literacy 5-6-7
Children in 6P (Switzerland) or CM1-CM2 (France)
Within Literacy 5/6/7, children further develop their knowledge, understanding and use of a wide range of genres for reading and writing. Grammar work is built in to the thematic units of work. The children are given plenty of opportunity for debate, discussion and group tasks, whilst employing and developing skills learned in the previous Literacy levels. Phonics are still used within the context of developing knowledge of spelling. Children are encouraged to adapt their writing for a specific purpose and audience as well as experiment with language selection, understanding text organisation and use a range of narrative techniques. Children are encouraged to support their reasoning with evidence when reading and analysing texts.