New partnership will help Salford children learn English through sport

A new partnership to help children learn English through sport is being launched in Salford.

The partnership ‘Phonics for Fans’ will see Salford City Football Club collaborate with Actiphons, to create a healthy mix of sports and education.

The Actiphons project was originally created by husband and wife team Simon and Kathryn Austberry, to help their own children to learn and read through the passion for sport.

Actiphons has already published more than 70 children’s books, that include “Racetrack Nick” and “Freestyle Flora” that integrate a sports characters doing an activity with a healthy mix of education.

The married couple have now set their sights on a number of football teams to help collaborate with their mission that include Salford City and Bolton Wanderers.

Actiphons website says: “By using the power of sport, Actiphons inspires children to learn to read and write using phonics.

“Through playing various sporty games and physical activities the sporty Actiphons characters teach children the various letter and sounds in the order they are taught in school whilst playing 29 different sports and over 90 different physical activities.”

The couple are also working with a number of local councils and governments.

Salford City will use its mascot ‘Billy the Lion’ in the educational materials.

And Actiphons has provided free books to young fans at the Junior Takeover Fixture when the club played Walsall.

A Salford City FC statement said: “We look forward to working together further on future projects.”

The organisation has aimed to unite the power of sport, the ‘power of community’ and the ‘power of learning’ all in one.

Co-founder Kathryn Austberry said: “Through playing a huge variety of different sports and physical activities the Actiphons reinforce words the children are practicing which in turn embeds their learning whilst having loads of fun.

“Actiphons is committed to helping children and families thrive in the communities and skills they require to help improve a reading culture whilst becoming physically and mentally healthy, reinforcing a more sustainable future.”

She added: “We will be recording ‘Phonics for Fans’ shows at the start of the new year,” as she continued: “Our shows will be filmed using local school children along with the help of a few famous friends!”

More about future Actiphons information can be found here.