Claims that major phonics programme, tied to resources sold by publishing giant, is “not-for-profit” prompt questions from rivals

A claim that one of England’s most widely-used phonics teaching programmes is “not-for-profit” is being criticised as highly misleading by rival companies.

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised markets itself as the fastest-growing government-validated phonics programme, as it is now in use in more than 5,000 schools, only having been set up in 2021.

Yet claims, including on its website, that the programme is “not for profit” are raising eyebrows, particularly given its links with the decidedly for-profit publishing giant HarperCollins, whose education division Collins lists 324 books it sells linked to Little Wandle.

Little Wandle was revealed on this website in April as having generated £4.6 million in a single year for the small academy trust with which it is associated.

The detail

The “not-for-profit” claim features on Little Wandle’s website, including on a page in which its prices are listed.