Writing
Reception · English
Listen for sounds, read words and enjoy stories.
Choose a game
Take your time, try a game and collect stars.
First sounds
Listen to a word and find the letter for its first sound, from s for sun to sh for ship, in this free Reception phonics game.
Play First soundsLast sounds
Listen to a word and find the letter or letters for its last sound, like t in cat, in this free Reception phonics game.
Play Last sounds
Learning about writing
These Reception English games practise First sounds, Last sounds. Choose a game above for a short activity, or explore the examples below before you play. The full guide for each game explains its controls, gives more examples and includes a free printable for practice away from the screen.
Talk it through
Sit together and read the cards aloud. Say the sounds, not the letter names: “c-a-t, cat”. Keep sessions short and stop while it is still fun.
Ask: “What sound can you hear at the start?” Give your child time to explain. Return to an example after playing and ask whether they would approach it differently.
First sounds
Hearing the first sound in a word helps children start to spell. They link that sound to a letter, or two letters such as sh.
Try an example: Listen: sun
sss-un: the first sound is s.
Show the answer
s
What to look out for
Choosing the letter name, not the sound Say the sound the letter makes, not its name.
Last sounds
Hearing the last sound in a word helps children spell whole words, not just the start.
Try an example: Listen: cat
ca-t: the last sound is t.
Show the answer
t
What to look out for
Choosing the first sound Say the word slowly and listen to the end.
Practise away from the screen
- Play I spy with sounds: "I spy something beginning with m".
- Say a word and ask your child for the last sound.
Ready for more phonics?
When these feel easy, try the Year 1 phonics games. They use the same spoken words.
Curriculum connections
These games support selected practice connected to the Writing early learning goal in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework for England. The goals describe what children are expected to know and do by the end of Reception. A game offers a few playful examples; it does not assess a goal.
Questions families ask
Where should we start with writing?
Start with First sounds. Look at the worked example together, then try a round. If the task feels unfamiliar, use the full game guide or its free printable before trying again.
Does this cover everything taught at this level?
No. These games give short, playful practice. Reception learning is mostly hands-on play, talk and stories, so use the games alongside those, not instead of them.