Sound Start

📚 Unlock the Joy of Reading! 🌟

Sound Start Remedial Reading Classes are designed to help children build confidence, strengthen reading skills, and develop a lifelong love for learning.

✨ Individualised support
📖 Improve reading, spelling & comprehension
💙 Fun, engaging lessons tailored to your child's needs

📩 Enquire now to book an assessment or reading class!

📍 Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria
📞 072 755 8635
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.emojikidshub.co.za

📚 Only about 1 in 5 Grade 4 learners in South Africa can read for meaning, in any of the country's 11 official languages. That's data from the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), This study showed a decline from the results of the same study in 2016.

As a parent, that's a hard stat to read, but it also points to something useful: reading difficulties are common, not a sign that something is "wrong" with a child, and they respond well to the right kind of help, early.

That's exactly what we do at Sound Start. Weekly one-on-one or small-group remedial reading sessions for children and teens, in English or Afrikaans, matched to the language your child actually learns in at home.

📍 We have branches in Menlyn and Moreleta Park in Pretoria.

Reach out if you'd like to chat about how we can help your child. 💛

[email protected]
www.soundstart.co.za

Hi everyone 👋

Does your child find reading a bit of a struggle, or seem to fall behind in class when it comes to literacy? You're not alone — and it's something that can absolutely be turned around with the right support.

We wanted to share a bit more about Sound Start, a remedial reading practice helping children build confident, lifelong reading skills through structured, evidence-based support. Attached is a short guide on how it works and what to expect.

Sound Start has branches in Menlyn and Moreleta Park, conveniently accessible across Pretoria East.

If this resonates with where your child is at, we'd love to hear from you — details on how to reach us are in the attached guide. 💛

📚 JULY HOLIDAY PAPER WORKSHOPS — Grade 6–12 📚
Exam season doesn't have to be stressful. This July, Sound Start is running two focused paper workshops to help learners walk into their language exams with confidence:

🇬🇧 English Language Paper Workshop — 13 July, 09:00–12:00

🇿🇦 Afrikaans Language Paper Workshop — 15 July, 09:00–12:00

✅ Question-type strategies

✅ Comprehension techniques

✅ Visual literacy skills

✅ Exam & time-management tips

📍 EduExcellence Private Remedial School, 75 Boskop Street, Lynnwood Glen

💰 R250 per workshop

📝 Registration closes 10 July — scan the QR code on the flyer or register via EmojiKids Hub

Spaces are limited, so book early to secure your child's spot!

🎉 Exciting news from Sound Start! 🎉
From 1 August 2026, we’re going full-time! That means more availability for new families looking for remedial reading support for their children. 📚✨
We’re also thrilled to be opening a brand new branch in Moreleta Park 🏡 — bringing Sound Start’s structured, evidence-based reading support even closer to home for families in the area.
Our new hours from 1 August:
🕛 Monday to Friday: 12:00 – 16:30
🕗 Saturday: 08:00 – 12:00
Whether your child is just starting to struggle with reading, or has been finding it tough for a while, we’re here to help build the skills and confidence they need 💛
📩 Get in touch today to find out more or start the conversation — we’d love to hear from you!

soundstart.co.za/contact

70% of South African children in Grade 1–3 can't read at grade level in their own home language. That's not a typo. That's the new national reading survey.

A new Department of Basic Education survey of 27,800 learners across 710 schools nationally found that only 30% of learners in Grades 1 to 3 are reading at grade level in their home language. In some languages, up to 25% of Grade 3 learners cannot read a single word, while 15% scored zero in reading assessments.

This is exactly why phonics-based, structured reading support matters so much in the early years. Decoding sounds, blending letters, and building reading fluency before a child falls behind. These aren't "extras", they're the foundation everything else gets built on.

At Sound Start, this is the work we do every day. If your child is struggling with reading, or you just want to make sure they don't become a statistic in next year's survey, get in touch. We'd love to help.

Read the full article here: https://iol.co.za/news/education/2026-06-22-reading-crisis-shocks-sa-as-millions-of-children-struggle-with-basics/

Reading crisis shocks SA as millions of children struggle with basics With 70% of Grade 1 to 3 learners in South Africa unable to read at grade level, is the phonics method still being taught in classrooms?

What if your child’s reading struggle is not just about reading?

Some children work incredibly hard, yet reading remains slow, exhausting or inconsistent. Extra practice helps a little, but something still feels “stuck”.

In some cases, reading difficulties are not only about phonics or comprehension. They can be linked to underlying neurodevelopmental factors such as sensory processing, motor coordination, attention regulation or retained reflexes.

When these foundations are not fully integrated, reading can feel overwhelming, even for a capable child.

In this blog post, I explain how a neurodevelopmental perspective helps us look deeper and why strengthening the foundations can make academic learning far more accessible.

Read the full article here:
https://soundstartreading.wixsite.com/sound-start/post/when-reading-difficulties-are-more-than-just-reading-a-neurodevelopmental-perspective

My child is clever...so why is reading a challenge?

Many children who struggle with reading are bright, curious and articulate. They ask good questions, understand complex ideas and surprise adults in so many ways.

That is why it can be so confusing, and worrying, when reading does not come easily.

In this blog post, I unpack why intelligence and reading ability are not the same thing, what may be happening beneath the surface, and why reading difficulties have nothing to do with effort, motivation or laziness.

If your child is smart but struggling to read confidently, this may help you make sense of what you are seeing.

Read the full blog here:
https://soundstartreading.wixsite.com/sound-start/post/understanding-why-bright-children-may-struggle-with-reading-skills

✨ Ready to make reading fun?

At Sound Start, we turn letters and sounds into stories your child loves 📚💛

Sound Start's reading classes help kids develop essential phonics, decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills that form the foundation for successful learning.

🎉 Personalised, interactive, and designed for real results!

📩 DM EmojiKids Therapy & Learning Hub to start your child’s reading journey today!

✨Meet Sound Start...