Team Fonetti

From Struggling and Reluctant Dyslexic to Avid Reader

Fonetti’s Education Manager: Victoria’s Story

At just seven years old, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. Reading was always a struggle for me, and because it took so much time and effort, I became a reluctant reader. I found little enjoyment in it – every page felt like a mountain to climb. Whenever I returned to a book the next day, I had to reread the same page just to make it sink in. The first time I read any text, I was concentrating so hard on deciphering the words that I couldn’t retain what I had actually read.

I remember, around the age of thirteen, my parents gave me a book called Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews. Many of my friends had already read it and raved about it, and I desperately wanted to be able to join their conversations. Determined, I decided to give it my best shot.

I opened the book and approached it ‘one page at a time’. But the familiar pattern happened again – I would read a page, then have to reread it over and over again to make it stick. Despite this, I became hooked. Gradually, I started reading a few pages at a time, though I still had to reread the last paragraph each time I picked the book up again. It took me nine months to finish it, but when I finally reached the last page, the sense of achievement was overwhelming. I was able to discuss the story with my friends and stepsisters who had finished it months before. Riding the wave of excitement, I picked up the next book in the series, Petals on the Wind, but the progress was so slow that I eventually gave up.

Fast forward to recently: I was visiting my grandparents in Hastings when my grandmother mentioned a series she had just finished watching on Channel 5. It was Flowers in the Attic – the origin story! Hearing this instantly transported me back to my early reading struggles and the pride I felt when I finished that first novel.

That evening, I went home and binge-watched the first three episodes, staying up into the early hours, completely gripped. The series gave so much more context to the characters, especially the grandmother, and I was fascinated to learn about her younger years. The following night, I watched the final episode, and the story reignited a strong desire to reread the book.

I knew I had a copy somewhere (ironically, I thought it might be in my attic!). Unable to find it, I jumped onto Amazon and discovered that while buying the individual book cost £9.99, the entire four-book series was only £16.99. Needless to say, I bought the set!

When the books arrived the next day, I couldn’t wait to get started. That evening, I curled up and began rereading a story so close to my heart – one that had once taken me months to finish. This time was different. I couldn’t put it down. It was a bank holiday weekend, and on Monday I lay on my bed from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m., reading non-stop. I ignored my phone, not wanting any interruptions.

In just two days, I devoured the entire book.

Without missing a beat, I picked up Petals on the Wind, and I’m now racing through it, reading at every opportunity – whether it’s a spare five minutes or a quiet evening. Within just four days, I’m nearing the end, and I’m already excited to start the third book later this week.

Through my work with Fonetti, I regularly read aloud using our app to test new books and demonstrate to schools across the country. This daily reading practice has dramatically improved my fluency, confidence, and enjoyment – to the point where I can now lose myself in novels in a way I once thought impossible.

That’s not to say the challenges of dyslexia have disappeared – they haven’t. Once a dyslexic, always a dyslexic. But with practice, you learn to overcome the hurdles. I now have the skills to decode difficult words. Sometimes I still wish I could double-tap a word like you can on Fonetti to hear it read aloud – that feature would be very handy with a physical book!

It may have taken me over 40 years to truly fall in love with reading, but I can now confidently say: I am an avid bookworm.

Posted in SEND, Reading, Team Fonetti

Celebrating the 2024 National Read-Aloud Challenge Awards Ceremony

“Fonetti clearly helps children learn to read. The joy on children’s faces as they achieve reading fluency is palpable. The second NRAC was inspirational – I hope this annual challenge grows and involves tens of thousands of children next year.”

– Lewis Bronze MBE (Chairman of Sensations English and Fonetti Education Ambassador)

Reflecting on the 2024 National Read-Aloud Challenge Awards
A week has passed since the incredible 2024 National Read-Aloud Challenge (NRAC) Awards Ceremony, but the joy and excitement from the event are still fresh in our minds. Held on Thursday, 16th January 2025, at the Amazon UK Headquarters in London, this year’s ceremony brought together an inspiring mix of attendees. From bright-eyed children and dedicated teachers to Fonetti employees, challenge sponsors, ambassadors, and leaders across the education and EdTech spaces, the day was truly a celebration of community, learning, and the power of reading aloud.

In this blog, we’ll take you through every unforgettable moment of the day, sharing highlights and reflections on what made the event so special.

Arrivals: A Warm Welcome
Guests began arriving at midday, travelling from all corners of the UK. Whether it was a quick hop on the Tube or a journey involving planes and ferries, every guest was greeted with a warm welcome at Amazon UK Headquarters.

A beautiful lunch spread awaited them in the main function room, setting the tone for a day filled with connection and celebration. Conversations buzzed as attendees networked, shared stories, and bonded over their shared passion for children’s literacy. The atmosphere was electric, filled with anticipation for the events to come.

A Magical Book Reading Session
The first major event of the day was the ever-popular author reading session. Hosted by the charismatic Arti Halai – communication coach and former ITV news presenter – the session brought storytelling to life for the children. Five incredible readers, from diverse backgrounds, took to the stage to share their favourite books and answer the children’s questions.

Here’s a quick recap of the readers and their captivating choices:

  • Martin Roberts, renowned TV presenter and author of The Villes series, enchanted the audience with a chapter from his book Sadsville, available on the Fonetti app.
  • Rosemary Goodenough, celebrated artist and author of Hooray-Hooray-Horatio the Jolly Hedgehog, delighted the children with her story Hooray-Hooray-Horatio the Jolly Hedgehog Dreams About London.
  • Lewis Bronze MBE, Fonetti’s Education Ambassador and former Blue Peter editor, shared a chapter from a beloved children’s classic.
  • Bonnie, a talented student from Riverdale Primary School in Northern Ireland, brought Sadsville to life with her confident reading.
  • Scott, an enthusiastic student from Widmer End Community Combined School, charmed the audience with The Gingerbread Man, a Fonetti favourite.

The session was a heartwarming reminder of the power of stories to inspire, educate, and bring people together. Seeing the children’s reactions and their engagement during the Q&A was a highlight for everyone present.

The Awards Ceremony: A Celebration of Achievement
By 2:30 PM, the stage was set for the main event of the day: the National Read Aloud Challenge Awards Ceremony. Hosted by the wonderful Clare Balding CBE—renowned TV presenter and Fonetti Brand Ambassador—the ceremony celebrated the incredible achievements of schools across the UK. As Clare interviewed the winning pupils, laughter filled the room. The children’s joy and their priceless, often hilarious responses were once again the heart of the ceremony!

Here’s a full list of the 2024 National Read-Aloud Challenge winners:

  • East of England: Forest Academy
  • East Midlands: Ibstock Junior School
  • London: St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School
  • North East: Bede Academy
  • North West: St Catherine’s CE Primary 
  • Northern Ireland: Riverdale Primary School
  • Scotland: Kyleakin Primary
  • South East: Widmer End Community Combined School
  • South West: Oakwood Primary Academy
  • Wales: Bryncelynnog Comprehensive School
  • West Midlands: Ferndale Primary School
  • Yorkshire/Humber: Copmanthorpe Primary School
  • Multi Academy Trust: Excalibur Academies Trust
  • Small Schools Award: Ogbourne CofE Primary School
  • National Winners: St Catherine’s CE Primary

During the ceremony, speeches from key Fonetti team members highlighted the importance of the challenge:

  • Lewis Bronze MBE, reflected on his lifelong dedication to promoting children’s education. He also spoke passionately about how reading aloud builds confidence and transforms children’s learning journeys. He reminded us of the millions of children still struggling with literacy and how Fonetti’s instant feedback feature empowers them to overcome these challenges.
  • Vicki Edgar, Fonetti’s Education Manager, shared inspiring stories of students who’ve thrived through the challenge. One standout story was of a student at Ibstock Junior School who improved their reading accuracy by five months, comprehension by over two years, and reading rate by an astonishing three years – all thanks to Fonetti! Vicki also reflected on her personal journey with dyslexia and how it fuels her passion for helping children discover the joy of reading.
  • Kim Antoniou, Fonetti’s Founder and CEO, shared the inspiration behind the National Read-Aloud Challenge. Motivated by the alarming statistic that roughly one in four children miss their reading targets each year and a belief in the potential of technology to combat summer reading regression, Kim launched the initiative. She also highlighted the remarkable growth of the challenge, which expanded from 4,000 to 10,000 participants in just one year. Looking ahead, Kim expressed her ambition to surpass 50,000 participants next summer through continued collaboration with sponsors, partners, and educators.

A Sweet Finale: Cakes, Networking, and Tours
After the ceremony, guests returned to the main function room to enjoy a delightful selection of cakes, teas, and coffees. The atmosphere was relaxed, yet filled with excitement as attendees mingled and reflected on the day’s events.

Meanwhile, Amazon staff offered children guided tours of the UK headquarters. For many students, especially those from smaller towns, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the workings of a global organisation. Their wide-eyed curiosity and thoughtful questions made the tours memorable for everyone involved.

Drinks Reception at the Light Bar
As schools began to leave around 5 PM, the remaining guests moved across the street to the Light Bar London for an exclusive drinks reception. Held in the cosy Backyard Rum Lodge, the gathering provided a perfect setting for further networking and celebrations. Conversations flowed as guests shared their thoughts on the day and their excitement for the future of the National Read-Aloud Challenge.

Looking Back and Ahead
The 2024 National Read-Aloud Challenge was a resounding success, with over 10,000 children participating from 560 schools across the UK. Together, they completed more than 13,000 hours of reading over 185,000 sessions on the Fonetti app.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to every single child who participated in this year’s challenge. We thoroughly hope you enjoyed taking part in the 2024 edition of this challenge and a massive congratulations to this year’s winning schools. We hope to see you again for the 2025 National Read-Aloud Challenge starting in June!

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re inspired by the passion and commitment shown by everyone involved. Here’s to another year of fostering a love for reading and empowering children to achieve their full potential!

A Few More Thank You’s!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended this year’s awards ceremony – your support made it truly special!

We are especially grateful to Clare Balding and Arti Halai for their fantastic hosting and for leading such an inspiring reading session.

A huge thank you to Martin Roberts, Lewis Bronze, Rosemary Goodenough, Scott, and Bonnie for their captivating readings, which added so much magic to the event.

Our deepest thanks to the team at Amazon for once again hosting this fabulous event – your continued support means the world to us.

To the wider Fonetti team, we applaud your incredible dedication and hard work in organising this year’s National Read Aloud Challenge and awards ceremony.

Lastly, this year’s challenge and awards ceremony wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing sponsors and partners. Thank you for believing in this initiative and helping us bring it to life – we are deeply grateful!

LEAP

1Decision

Blue Cow Education

Cornerstones Education

GEC

Headerteacher Chat

Kids Active Media

Sensations English

Swoperz

TextHelp

SENsible SENco

TeacherTapp

Totally Branded

SQS

Wensum English Hub

Winning with Numbers

Wonde

YPO

Linky Thinks

Posted in National Read Aloud Challenge, Awards, Team Fonetti

Celebrate National Read a Book Day with Fonetti!

Each year on September 6th, National Read a Book Day invites us all to take a moment and dive into the magic of reading. Whether you prefer to curl up with a good book or share a story with family and friends, this special day encourages everyone to step away from the hustle and bustle of life and get lost in the world of words. At Fonetti, we’re passionate about helping children develop a lifelong love for reading – and we believe there’s no better way to celebrate National Read a Book Day than by reading with us!

The Magic of Reading Aloud
Reading aloud is a wonderful way for children to engage with stories and learn to express themselves with confidence. Not only does it improve their reading fluency, but it also boosts vocabulary, comprehension, and public speaking skills. There’s something magical about giving characters a voice and bringing stories to life, especially when children can practice their reading in a supportive environment.

That’s where Fonetti comes in. Our interactive app encourages kids to read aloud, track their progress, and build the confidence they need to become strong, enthusiastic readers. With our voice recognition technology, children receive instant feedback on their reading, helping them to improve while having fun.

Why Celebrate with Fonetti?
National Read a Book Day is the perfect opportunity to help your child explore new stories while honing their reading skills. Whether your little one is just starting to read or already a budding bookworm, Fonetti offers a wide range of books to suit every level and interest. From adventures to fairy tales, every story on Fonetti can be read aloud, giving children the chance to become the narrator of their own story.

Plus, reading out loud isn’t just beneficial for individual development; it can be a beautiful bonding experience. Sitting down to read with family, sharing stories, and listening to your child’s progress fosters a love for storytelling and creates lasting memories.

The Benefits of Reading Aloud
Reading a book out loud offers a wealth of benefits for children:

  • Improves Literacy Skills: Reading aloud sharpens pronunciation, fluency, and understanding, all while boosting vocabulary.
  • Builds Confidence: As children practice reading aloud, they become more comfortable with public speaking and expressing themselves in front of others.
  • Enhances Comprehension: Listening to stories and reading aloud help children grasp the meaning behind the text, leading to better retention of the story’s plot, characters, and themes.
  • Strengthens Focus: Reading aloud requires concentration and attention to detail, helping children develop focus and discipline.
  • Encourages Creativity: By reading stories out loud, children use their imagination to visualise scenes and characters, sparking creativity.

At Fonetti, we believe that every child has the potential to be a confident reader. National Read a Book Day is a wonderful chance to inspire your child to read more, learn more, and – most importantly – enjoy the process.

Get Started with Fonetti
This National Read a Book Day, why not encourage your child to explore the world of books with Fonetti? With our app, reading aloud becomes an engaging, rewarding experience, empowering children to read, improve, and gain confidence every step of the way.

So, grab a book (or two), sit down with your child, and celebrate National Read a Book Day with us. Together, we can help create the next generation of passionate readers!

Happy reading!

Posted in News, Reading, Team Fonetti

Lewis Bronze MBE – Fonetti’s Education Ambassador

Fonetti proudly welcomes Lewis Bronze MBE as our Education Ambassador. I had the opportunity to speak with him to uncover the origins of his passion for supporting education and understand his reasons for accepting the role of Fonetti’s Education Ambassador.

Lewis Bronze MBE
From a young age, Lewis Bronze had a keen interest in telling factual stories, leading him to stumble upon journalism during his time at university. This fortuitous discovery opened up an amazing opportunity for him to work as a graduate journalist at the esteemed BBC News. Ultimately, he found himself immersed in the world of BBC Newsround where he held the role of producer, an experience he cherished greatly. This marked the genesis of Lewis’s fascination with education, as he was tasked with delivering thought-provoking narratives to a young audience. Although challenging, it proved immensely rewarding.

Continuing his career at the BBC, Lewis then embarked on a new journey as the editor of the renowned Blue Peter programme, dedicating many years to this role. In 1996, with a genuine desire to continue his mission of delivering high-quality content to children, he co-founded Espresso Education (later acquired by Discovery Education). The primary goal of Espresso was to introduce news videos into classrooms, serving as a valuable educational resource that enriches students’ learning experiences.

Currently, in his role as the chairman of Sensations English, he wholeheartedly commits himself to fostering the development and triumph of young individuals. This ongoing passion relentlessly ignites his spirit and drives him forward.

‘I almost remember the day where letters became words.’

When I asked Lewis where his love for reading came from, he stated that he ‘distinctly remembers reading in school and thinking it was cool. It must have been kindergarten. We had the Janet and John books and I almost remember the day when the letters became words.’ 

He went on, “One memory that sticks with me is reading the sports pages in the Daily Express. It’s what sparked my love for reading.”

There were books around the house but I don’t really remember seeing my parents ever reading them. But what I do remember is he used to get paper delivered and when I heard the clap of the letterbox I used to run downstairs to be the first one to spread it out on the carpet where I went straight to the sports pages, especially the cricket.’

‘I was probably five or six when that was happening so that’s a very early memory and I didn’t realise it but what I was doing was reading and developing a love for probably news and sport and reading.

‘Once someone’s spark is caught, it can take you anywhere!’

Next, we delved into the reasons behind why he agreed to become Fonetti’s Education Ambassador. He explained that he wanted ‘everyone to have the chance to be entranced by reading and be taken into new worlds and have their horizons broadened.’ He continued, ‘I want everyone to have the same opportunity and I recognise that it is much more complicated in today’s world.’ 

Fonetti is a great tool to have in your arsenal. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or child, it holds tremendous potential to revolutionise literacy and encourage a love for reading. It can empower individuals who may have otherwise missed out on that crucial initial spark, as we all know that once that spark ignites, the possibilities become limitless. 

“Fonetti is a revolutionary tool in the classroom, capable of transforming the way we approach reading. I firmly believe that widespread adoption of Fonetti in classrooms nationwide would lead to a remarkable improvement in reading scores, given adequate time for implementation. And from that comes all learning, all the curriculum follows, and that is why reading is so important. So that is my motivation. I want to support Fonetti as much as I can.’

Our CEO, Kim Antoniou adds:
“We take great pride in extending a warm welcome to Lewis, our esteemed Education Ambassador. It is an immense honour to have him graciously share his vast experience, unwavering passion for reading, and invaluable insights with us. We deeply appreciate his generosity in dedicating his precious time to this endeavour.”

Posted in News, Appearances, Team Fonetti

The Benefits of Gamification

Gamification is about involving game elements in non-game contexts. There has been a lot of research about how gamification can be beneficial in education in order to help motivate and engage children in their learning. 

By making education more interactive and fun, the educational outcomes can be far better. Gamification encourages children to think about their own learning process and discover how to progress at their own pace. It also helps to develop problem-solving skills, creativity and collaboration among students. Rewards in the form of points or leaderboards can motivate children to push themselves further in their learning to ensure they hit the next milestone in the game. 

Gamification in the National Read Aloud Challenge
At the National Read Aloud Challenge, we know it can be near impossible to encourage children to read over the summer break. Understandably, they just want to spend their time having fun and enjoying the sunshine. In order to combat this, we have made reading fun and engaging through using gamification. Your children won’t want to stop!

From hitting various milestones and gaining certificates to appearing on a national leaderboard, the National Read Aloud Challenge has carefully curated different ways to make reading exciting and competitive but also meaningful and constructive, even for those reluctant readers.

Children can compete against other children their own age, children in their regional area and other children in their school. Schools within a multi-academy trust can also compete against each other!

We don’t do things by half!
The National Read Aloud Challenge not only incorporates gamification into the challenge but children can actually win some prizes, including vouchers and signed books. Not only that, schools also have the chance to win a FREE trip to London for an awards ceremony hosted by our brand ambassador Clare Balding, MBE! 

Enrol your school now and let the games begin!

www.readaloudchallenge.co.uk
#BeProudReadAloud

Posted in Insights, Reading, Team Fonetti

Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity Event raises £107k for ‘Sick Kids’

On Friday, we were honoured to attend the #GetTogether for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) to support all of the amazing and important work that the charity does for seriously ill children and their families. We were blown away by some of the stories that were shared at the event by parents and doctors and could not be prouder of all that the charity achieves. 

The event was bursting with life thanks to some delightful live entertainment from the children, featuring some gorgeous dancing from Sammy and Lucy the enchanting Evan and an emotional story from the mother of baby Hector the Hero, who are all currently doing well. The charity’s CEO, Roslyn Neely, and her team did a fantastic job planning this incredible event, raising an astounding £107,000 for the cause.

The Edinburgh Children’s Hospital
The ECHC helps critically ill babies, children and young people by supporting their medical care, mental health and family’s wellbeing. The hospital team delivers daily arts activities, youth work and family support; their Grants Programme funds child-friendly spaces and play initiatives, life-changing equipment and bereavement support.

This exceptionally vital work the charity carries out means that fundraising events, like the #GetTogether, are crucial for raising sufficient funds to support the families facing the toughest of times. 

Here to Help
Some children spend more time in hospital than they do out of hospital. This means they are unable to attend school and they need to complete their education in hospital. Fonetti are currently working closely on a pilot with the ECHC to adapt our read aloud app so that it can be used by children in hospitals. We want all children, no matter their circumstances, to have the opportunity to delve into books and experience the joy of reading. 

Reading & Children’s Mental Health
Reading has so many benefits for children and supporting their mental health is one that we feel is the most important. Books not only allow children to escape into another world and develop imagination and curiosity, they also support children with understanding tricky emotions and help them to process how they are feeling. 

If a child can relate to a character in a book, who is in a similar position to them, it can help them navigate the challenges they may be facing and feel understood. Books are a great way to get children talking about their feelings without making them feel overwhelmed. 

The Book Trust explains, ‘Books can be a vehicle for the discussion for pertinent topics. Books with emotional stories, for example, can provide explicit opportunities for a child and their carer to discuss painful issues but with the emotional safety of being one step removed. They can talk about the characters and events in a book without having to refer directly to themselves.’

National Read Aloud Challenge
The National Read Aloud Challenge has partnered up with Fonetti over the summer, making hundreds of books on the Fonetti in app library completely free until 31st August. We want all children to have access to books over the summer so that if they feel they need to escape into a story, they can. 

Posted in Events and Conferences, Appearances, National Read Aloud Challenge, Team Fonetti