Awards

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

How EdTech Is Transforming the Classroom

The use of technology in education has become increasingly popular in recent years, as more and more schools are incorporating it into their curriculum. From interactive whiteboards to educational apps, there are endless possibilities for how technology can enhance learning experiences.

Let’s dive into a few of the many advantages that arise when educational technology (ed tech) is seamlessly integrated into schools. 

Enhancing Teaching and Learning
One of the most significant benefits of using educational technology is its ability to enhance teaching and learning. With the use of digital tools, teachers can create interactive and engaging lessons that capture students’ attention and interest. Such lessons allow for a more dynamic learning experience, making it easier for students to retain information.

Moreover, technology provides teachers with a wide variety of resources and materials to supplement their lessons. With access to online educational platforms, teachers can find a vast array of videos, simulations, and other interactive content to enrich their teaching. This diversity of resources allows for more personalised learning experiences that cater to students’ specific needs and learning styles.

Promoting Self-directed Learning
Another advantage of educational technology is its ability to promote self-directed learning. With access to online resources, students can take control of their education and explore topics that interest them beyond the traditional curriculum. This not only allows for a more personalised learning experience but also encourages students to take ownership of their education and develop critical thinking skills.

Moreover, technology provides students with the opportunity to learn at their own pace. With access to recorded lessons, online tutorials, and other digital resources, students can revisit concepts they find challenging without feeling rushed or left behind.

Preparing Students for the Future
As technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly important for students to be equipped with digital literacy skills. By incorporating educational technology into schools, students can develop these skills and be better prepared for the future workforce.

Moreover, with the use of online learning platforms and resources, students can also gain experience in using various tools and technologies commonly used in different industries. This exposure allows them to develop a better understanding of how technology can be applied in real-world scenarios.

The BETT Awards, also known as the British Educational Training and Technology Awards, is an annual event that celebrates the use of technology in education. The purpose of the BETT Awards is to showcase innovative products and services that improve teaching and learning outcomes. It also aims to recognise the efforts of educators, schools, and organisations in using technology to enhance education.

BETT is one of the biggest events in the year for Fonetti and we are delighted to be nominated for the Class Aid & Educator award. Our revolutionary approach to reading has been proven to improve reading fluency and confidence in children as well as providing teachers with vital information and saving them time in the classroom. 

We are eagerly anticipating the upcoming event, eagerly waiting for the chance to connect with the remarkable individuals behind the extraordinary educational technology products being presented. From innovative learning platforms to cutting-edge digital tools, this event promises to showcase the latest advancements in the field. We cannot wait to engage in insightful conversations, gain valuable insights, and explore opportunities for collaboration. It’s an event that promises to inspire and ignite our passion for educational technology.

Posted in EdTech, Awards, Insights, Technology

Fonetti Showcases Reading Innovation at Infoshare in Poland

It was great to visit the beautiful city of Gdansk in Poland, to talk about our unique patented technology in the Fonetti app, that makes such a real positive impact on child futures.

The ability to read confidently is a crucial skill that has a significant impact on an individual’s life. At Auris Tech, we believe in the power of literacy, which is why we work tirelessly to create innovative solutions for learners of all ages. Our flagship product, Fonetti, is a unique reading app designed to help young learners improve their reading skills and develop a love for reading.

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been shortlisted as a finalist in the Inforshare pitch competition! This platform recognises innovation and enterprise within the education sector, and being a part of it is a significant achievement for us. We see this as an exceptional opportunity to showcase our product and share our story with other like-minded companies that share our vision for the future of education.

At Auris Tech, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality education and resources, and we are committed to making this a reality. We are constantly striving to push the boundaries of what’s possible for learners around the world, and we’re excited to be a part of this community of innovators and change-makers.

Posted in Awards, Appearances, News

Fonetti Shortlisted For The Teach Primary Awards 2022

We’re delighted to have been shortlisted in the Teach Primary Awards 2022, in the English category.

We sit alongside brilliant resources from suppliers including Reading Rocks, Young Writers, Teach Active and The Literacy Tree, so we eagerly await the decision in November!

The shortlisted resources will now be assessed by an expert panel of judges, including representatives from The National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT), the UK Literacy Association (UKLA), and the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM).

#BeProudReadAloud

Posted in Awards

Fonetti Scoops the ERA Award for Best Classroom Resources!

The Education Resource Awards recognise exceptional educational products and resources, outstanding educational establishments, and dedicated members of the teaching profession and supplier industry. Together, they strive to foster excellence in education by harnessing the power of collaboration.

Kim Antoniou, Fonetti’s Founder and CEO, along with Education Manager, Vicki Edgar, attended a prestigious black-tie gala dinner where Fonetti was shortlisted, along with eight other esteemed finalists, for the coveted Classroom Teaching Aids Award.

As the night wore on, the anticipation grew thick in the ballroom, and at around 8 pm, the master of ceremonies announced the winner. An eruption of loud shrieks and cheers of delight immediately followed as it was announced that Fonetti’s School Portal had beaten the competition, clinching entry into an exclusive circle of innovation, and a resounding validation of the game-changing nature of Fonetti’s app.

It was a proud moment for both Kim and Vicki, as well as for the entire Fonetti team, and a clear message to the education community that, with Fonetti, they are in good hands.

Congratulations to our fellow finalists:

  • DoodleLearning – DoodleEnglish
  • Fiction Express Education Ltd – Fiction Express
  • imoves active education ltd – imoves
  • Learning by Questions – Learning by Questions
  • LinkyThinks – LinkyThinks Advanced Word Wheel Book
  • NCFE – NCFE – Our skills assessment tools
  • Time for Phonics – Time for Phonics interactive phonics games
  • ViewSonic Europe Ltd – ViewSonic ViewBoard 52 series
Posted in Awards, Events and Conferences

Auris Ranked #1 as UK’s Most Innovative EdTech Creators in 2022!

Auris Tech, the company behind Fonetti has been voted the UK’s most innovative edtech creator for the second year in a row!

Following the creation of a 99-strong shortlist, the final ranking was decided by a combination of selections from an independent judging panel and a public vote which attracted around 1,000 votes.

The judges were:

For our technology to be recognised in this way, yet again, is testament to the hard work and commitment of the team, and unwavering support of our partners and schools.

Huge thanks to the esteemed judges and everyone who voted for Auris!

If you’d like to try Fonetti (empowered by Auris) in your school, sign up for a free 4 week trial!

#EdTech50
#BusinessCloud
#InnovativeEdTech

Posted in Awards, EdTech

Fonetti Named Finalist In The 2021 BESA Education Resources Awards

We are delighted to be finalists in the BESA Education Resources Awards for 2021, in the Primary Resource or Equipment – ICT category. With 22 categories this year, we’re proud to sit amongst some brilliant school suppliers such as Doodle Learning, Harper Collins, Hodder Education, Oxford University Press, and LGfL.

The judges were highly impressed by the creativity and professionalism of the submissions received.

The award winners will be announced at 3pm on Friday 21st May, at an online awards ceremony. We’ll be watching and trying not to bite our nails, and wish every finalist the very best of luck.

Posted in Awards, Events and Conferences

Fonetti Wins All Digital School Editors’ Choice Award

We’re excited to announce Fonetti has been awarded the ADS Editors’ Choice badge.

All Digital School is an educational resource platform that supports educators, parents and students. During the pandemic they’ve helped source the best learning materials for home-schooling and are dedicated to finding tools that create better learning experiences online.

We’re thrilled that ADS have chosen Fonetti as their favourite reading app, we’re biased but we think they’ve got good taste, don’t you?

Posted in Awards

Fonetti Wins Department for Education Accreditation

Fonetti becomes the UK Government’s Approved Platform for Practising Reading!
There’s been a lot of buzz here at Fonetti HQ over the last week. For weeks we’ve been excited to share the news, and finally the time has come…

…last summer we entered a competition with the UK Government who were out to find the most engaging learning apps for children to use at home and in school.

After all the secrecy and waiting we are proud to share that Fonetti is one of the 6 Apps chosen and that this was made public in a press release today from The Secretary of State for Education The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP and launched as part of the Hungry Little Minds campaign.

What is Hungry Little Minds?
Hungry Little Minds is a government campaign to kickstart children’s learning within homes. The team at HLM have worked hard to be able to provide only the best and most effective learning tools. They aim to aid parents in making informed decisions about how technology can be used for learning in a way that is effective, fun, and encouraging.

Jonathan Douglas, judge and Director at the National Literacy Trust, says that ‘the apps which we have chosen will help parents feed their children’s hungry little minds with great stories, exciting and fun experience of language and offer the support for the early reading experiences which provide the foundation for a lifetime of learning.’

Where does Fonetti come in?
Here at Fonetti we believe literacy to be the basis of all learning. The Literacy Trust found that children who own books at home are three times more likely to read above the level expected for their age compared with their peers who say that they don’t have their own books.

We absolutely recognise just what a difference it makes for a child to have a head start before starting school, and to have the tools available to practice and all the apps chosen as a part of this campaign are designed to help with that cause.

The exciting apps featured on Hungry Little Minds are focussed on instilling in learners an understanding of phonics. These apps are an incredible starting block for little ones just beginning to recognise words and sounds.

  • Lingumi (For children aged 2-5): Sets of learning games, speech recognition games and video-based games to help with a child’s grammar and getting them speaking their first words early on.
  • Kaligo (For children aged 3-5): The first digital handwriting exercise book using a stylus and tablet, built using AI and co-created with teachers, occupational therapists and neuroscientists.
  • Phonics Hero (For school-aged children): Over 850 fun, varied and motivating games take a child step-by-step through the 44 sounds, the reading and spelling of words, and how to conquer sentences.
  • Teach Your Monster to Read (For school-aged children): Covers the first two years of learning to read, from matching letters and sounds to enjoying little books, designed in collaboration with leading academics.
  • Navigo Game (For school-aged children): Focuses on developing skills that underpin reading, including phonics, letters and sounds, designed by UCL Institute of Education and Fish in a Bottle.
  • Fonetti (For school-aged children): The world’s first ‘Listening Bookshop’ interacting with children by giving visual cues in real-time as they read aloud and highlighting where the most support is needed.

Fonetti compliments these apps wonderfully! We’re aimed at children just a little older, who have picked up these reading and spelling skills. Our app, powered by our own world-first ASR engine, offers Listening Books

What are Listening Books?
Only the most innovative and enjoyable way to build confidence in reading! At least, that’s what we believe. Powered by our dynamic voice recognition technology, children are able to access an ever-growing library full of books only available on Fonetti.

Once a young reader has chosen a book, they’re encouraged to read out aloud. If they read correctly, words will light up green – immediate gratification! Not just that, but if they’re struggling with a tricky word, as we all do sometimes, they can simply double-tab and hear one of our voice artists pronounce the world clearly. Parents can then check their progress reports to see how well they’re doing.

Practice makes the master!
Once a young reader has learned the basics, they can progress onto Fonetti and build up their confidence!

Fonetti can be used with adult supervision or by a child on their own. Fonetti offers the child a safe space to practice their skills, whilst enjoying some fantastic original content. For many learners, this, together with the real-time visual assurance that they are reading exactly what’s on the page, and the rewards and reporting sections, encourages them to improve their skills and read more.

Auris CEO Kim Antoniou says, “We are thrilled to receive this Accreditation and Approval from the UK Government for our first product Fonetti, an App we have created using our unique speech recognition technology designed to work with children’s voices. We look forward to playing our part alongside the British Government, with their ambitions to improve primary aged literacy, and to having a continued positive impact on children literacy in this digital age by encouraging them on their individual journeys towards a love for reading”

If you have an iPad, give us a go! See what adventures your little reader discovers.

Sign up now to get 1-month free access to our awesome library of Listening Books. Have fun!

Thanks for stopping by! If you would like to find out any more information about Fonetti, or even who we are as a team, please do get in touch.

We are always happy to speak with our users, and look forward to hearing from you sometime.

Posted in Awards, Team Fonetti, Technology

Auris Collects an Evidence Aware Edward

We’re delighted to announce our successful completion of UCL’s Educate programme!
Last Friday we were at Educate’s Demo Day and Edward Ceremony which took place at City Hall in the heart of London where we were honoured to have collected our very own Edward Award which was presented to us by the legendary Professor Rose Luckin.

Educate is a research accelerator programme for EdTech companies, based at UCL Institute of Education. This Demo Day saw 8 EdTech companies pitching to a panel of investors, and over 40 companies picking up an Edward after participating in the Educate programme and successfully applying real research in their ventures. 

We were one of them!
The Educate programme operates on the idea that the EdTech industry has to be based on excellent business practice and academic research. When we began the Education programme, Fonetti was in beta phase of development. From then, Educate has aided us in gathering data, and now we have an Evidence Aware Edward, and a technology at the heart of our app which just keeps getting better and better.

Through Educate, we gained valuable data on product developments. We made improvements to the gamification element of the app, collected data on customer experiences and market value of Fonetti. And, of course, we were able to clearly evaluate the performance of our own speech recognition engine. 

And right now, Fonetti is live in the AppleStore. 

Our experience with Educate has been better than we could have imagined. We’re over the moon to have been a part of it, and to be a part of the wider EdTech community.

Congratulations to everybody else completing the programme and thank you to Educate for such a smashing day! 

Posted in Awards, EdTech