Online Phonics Classes for Kids in Australia
Jolly Reading runs live online phonics classes for children in Australia, taught in small groups from India by a certified Jolly Phonics teacher. Children aged 4 to 12 join from home in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, read aloud in every session, and start with a free demo class. Classes run on AEST/AEDT (UTC+10 or +11) and AWST (UTC+8) in the west-friendly timings.
What to Expect
| Item | Item |
|---|---|
| Method | Jolly Phonics (systematic synthetic phonics) |
| Mode | Live online, small groups |
| Ages | 4–6 (reading foundation) · 6–12 (advanced phonics) |
| Batch size | 5–6 children |
| Class timings | AEST/AEDT (UTC+10 or +11) and AWST (UTC+8) in the west |
| Teacher | Megha Vyas, Education Consultant, Jolly Reading |
| Fees | Enquire for current fees |
| First step | Free demo class with a level check |
Why Families in Australia Choose Live Online Classes
The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check has made decoding measurable
Parents now get clear information about whether their child can decode, and want targeted help when the result is low.
Tutoring is expensive
Live online small-group teaching costs less than local one-to-one tutoring.
Scheduling is workable
Indian morning and weekend batches line up with Australian afternoons.
Eastern Australia is 4 hours 30 minutes ahead of India, and 5 hours 30 minutes during daylight saving. Perth is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead. That means Indian morning batches match Australian afternoons, and weekend slots often work best.
Phonics in Australia: What Parents Should Know
Australian schools have moved firmly towards systematic synthetic phonics. The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is a 5–7 minute assessment of 40 words, real and made-up, and students are considered to have met the expected level when they read at least 28 correctly. In Victoria it runs in Term 3 and is mandatory for Year 1 students in government schools. NSW government schools also run it, and the Australian Government supports a voluntary national version through its Literacy Hub.
Two things follow for parents. First, the check tests decoding, not memorised words, which is exactly what phonics teaches. Second, results vary with English proficiency: in NSW in 2025, 34% of students at the Beginning phase of English as an additional language or dialect met the expected level, compared with 90% at the Consolidating phase. That is why many families look for extra support outside school.
We are not a test preparation service, and coaching for a screening check is not the point. Teaching a child to decode properly is what the check measures anyway.
The Year 1 Phonics Check: What It Is and What Parents Can Do
The check is a short one-to-one reading task, not a written test. Here is what the official sources say.
| Item | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| What it is | A teacher listens to your child read words aloud to see whether they can decode them. The national version is described as not a test, and parents do not need to prepare children for it. |
| Items | 40 words: 20 real words and 20 made-up words (Victoria). Made-up words cannot be memorised, so they show whether a child can sound out. |
| Time | About 5 to 7 minutes per child. |
| Expected level | 28 or more of 40 (Victoria and NSW). |
| Who sits it | Mandatory for Year 1 students in Victorian government schools. NSW government schools also run it (61,964 students in 2025). The national version supported by the Australian Government is voluntary. |
| NSW 2025 results | 64% of Year 1 students met the expected level, up from 60% in 2024. Among students learning English as an additional language or dialect, 34% of those at the Beginning phase met it, compared with 90% at the Consolidating phase. |
If your child scored below the expected level
- Ask the teacher what was missed. Was it single sounds, blending, or longer words and vowel patterns?
- Stop guessing. Ask your child to say each sound and then blend it, rather than guessing from the first letter or the picture.
- Practise with made-up words. Words such as ‘vap’ or ‘jod’ show real decoding, because they cannot be remembered.
- Keep it short. About 10 minutes a day works better than a long weekend session.
- Book a level check. Our free demo class shows which sounds your child knows and how they decode, so you know where to start.
A lower result is a snapshot, not a label. If a child continues to struggle despite regular support, speak to the class teacher about whether an assessment by a suitably qualified professional would help.
We are not a test-preparation service. Teaching a child to decode properly is what the check measures anyway.
Which level fits your child?
| Your child | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Child in Foundation who knows letters but cannot blend them | Online Phonics Classes (ages 4–6). Sounds, blending and first spelling. |
| Child in Year 1 who scored below the expected level or guesses words | Free demo class and level check first; we then place your child in foundation or advanced phonics, whichever fits their gaps. |
| Child in Years 2–6 who reads slowly, guesses or spells poorly | Advanced Phonics (ages 6–12). Alternative spellings, syllable types, prefixes and suffixes. |
| You are not sure | Book the free demo class. The level check shows which sounds your child knows and how they decode. |
Class time converter for Australia
| City | Time zone | A 10:00 am class in India is |
|---|---|---|
| Perth | AWST (UTC+8) | 12:30 pm |
| Darwin | ACST (UTC+9:30) | 2:00 pm |
| Adelaide | ACST (Apr–Oct) / ACDT (Oct–Apr) | 2:00 pm / 3:00 pm |
| Brisbane | AEST (UTC+10, no daylight saving) | 2:30 pm |
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart | AEST (Apr–Oct) / AEDT (Oct–Apr) | 2:30 pm / 3:30 pm |
Indian morning and weekend batches line up best with Australian afternoons. Exact batch times are confirmed when you book the demo class.
Sources checked October 2026: Victorian Year 1 Phonics Check · NSW CESE, Year 1 Phonics Screening Check 2025 · Learning Potential, Australian Government. Listings and fees change, so confirm details with each provider.
Who These Classes Are For
- Children in Foundation or Year 1 who are behind in decoding
- Children who did not meet the expected level in the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
- Children learning English as an additional language at home
- Children in Years 2–6 who read slowly, guess words or spell poorly
What Your Child Learns
Ages 4–6: reading foundation
- The 42 sounds of Jolly Phonics with correct pure pronunciation
- Blending sounds to read words, from the first weeks
- Hearing the sounds in words in order to spell them
- Correct letter formation
- Tricky words and reading simple books
Ages 6–12: advanced phonics
For children who read slowly, guess words or spell by memory: alternative spellings, syllable types, prefixes and suffixes, and spelling rules. See advanced phonics.
After phonics
Jolly Grammar: parts of speech, tenses and punctuation, taught with colours and actions.
How Our Online Classes Work
Free demo class
We check which sounds your child knows and how they read, then recommend a level.
Placement in a small batch
at a suitable level and time.
Live sessions
sounds, actions, blending, dictation and reading aloud. Every child gets individual turns.
About 10 minutes of home practice a day
We tell you exactly what to do.
Regular progress updates
from the teacher, so you know exactly how your child is doing
What you need: a laptop or tablet (a phone screen is too small for reading practice), a stable connection, a quiet corner, and a notebook and pencil.
How to Judge Any Phonics Class
Australian tutoring sites cover the screening check thoroughly for teachers. Very little explains to parents what to actually do at home after a low result. Before you enrol anywhere, ask:
- Does the teacher say pure sounds, /s/ rather than "suh"?
- Does every child read aloud in every session?
- How many children are in the batch?
- Do children blend and read words in the first weeks, or only sing songs?
- Is spelling taught through dictation?
- Who teaches your child, and what is their training?
More on this in our guide to online vs offline phonics classes.
Who You'll Be Trained By
Megha Vyas
Megha Vyas is the founder of Jolly Reading and a passionate literacy educator with over 23 years of experience teaching phonics. She specialises in helping teachers, schools and parents build strong reading foundations through structured phonics instruction.
- Certified in Jolly Phonics & Jolly Grammar through Jolly Phonics CPD College, UK
- Former Air India cabin crew — brings expert pronunciation and phonemic awareness to every session
- Certified Remedial Educator, with hands-on experience supporting children with reading and spelling difficulties
- 2000+ teachers trained across India through structured Jolly Phonics methodology
“To empower learners with the skills, confidence, and proven strategies needed to become successful, lifelong readers.”
Parents Trust Us With Their Children's Reading Journey
“My heartfelt gratitude to you, Megha miss, for imparting quality English language skills to my son Neil. Your method of teaching has ensured he'll never have any problem with English learning in the future.”
“Aarav developed reading fluency and expressive writing skills under her teaching. Megha miss built confidence in him and motivated him for English speaking.”
Book a Free Demo Class
Tell us your child's age and your preferred time in Australia, and we will arrange a free demo class.
Teachers and parents in Australia who want to teach phonics themselves can also join our Jolly Phonics teacher training course.
Frequently Asked Questions About Phonics Classes in Australia
Are there online phonics classes for children in Australia? +
Yes. Jolly Reading teaches children across Australia live online in small groups, with a free demo class to start.
What time are the classes in Australia? +
Classes are scheduled on AEST/AEDT (UTC+10 or +11) and AWST (UTC+8) in the west-friendly timings. Eastern Australia is 4 hours 30 minutes ahead of India, and 5 hours 30 minutes during daylight saving. Perth is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead. That means Indian morning batches match Australian afternoons, and weekend slots often work best.
What age should my child start phonics? +
Most children start between 4 and 5. Older children aged 6 to 12 who read slowly or spell poorly usually start with advanced phonics after a level check.
How many children are in each batch? +
Batches are kept small, 5–6 children, so every child reads aloud and is corrected in each session.
Is online as effective as a local centre? +
For children aged 4 and above, a small live group works well, because the teacher hears and corrects every child. Very young children who cannot yet focus on a screen may do better in person.
Do you follow the Australia school curriculum? +
We teach the decoding skills that reading in any curriculum depends on: sounds, blending, spelling and fluency. We are not a school syllabus programme.
What equipment does my child need? +
A laptop or tablet, a stable internet connection, a quiet space, and a notebook and pencil.
Is there a free trial? +
Yes. Every child starts with a free demo class, which includes a level check.
What is the Year 1 Phonics Check? +
It is a 5 to 7 minute one-to-one reading task in which a teacher listens to your child read 40 words aloud, 20 real and 20 made-up. A score of 28 or more is the expected level. It is mandatory for Year 1 students in Victorian government schools, and NSW government schools also run it.
What if my child scores below the expected level? +
Ask the teacher which sounds or word types were missed, practise sounding out and blending for about 10 minutes a day, and use made-up words so your child cannot rely on memory. A live small-group class can add structured practice. If difficulties continue, ask the school whether an assessment by a suitably qualified professional is appropriate.
How much do online phonics classes cost in Australia? +
Fees depend on the level and batch, so we share current fees when you enquire. Ask any provider whether the fee covers a live group class or one-to-one tutoring, how many children are in the batch, and how many sessions there are each week.