What is the year 1 Phonics Screening Check?

The Phonics Screening Check is meant to show how well your child can use the phonics skills they’ve learned up to the end of Year 1, and to identify students who need extra phonics help. The Department for Education defines the checks as “short, light-touch assessments” that take about four to nine minutes to complete.

How do children complete the phonics screening check?

The checks consist of 40 words and non-words that your child will be asked to read one-on-one with a teacher. Non-words (or nonsense words, or pseudo words) are a collection of letters that will follow the phonics rules your child has been taught, but do not have their own meaning - your child will need to read these with the correct sounds to show that they understand the phonics rules behind them.  The 40 words and non-words are divided into two sections – one with simple word structures of three or four letters, and one with more complex word structures of five or six letters. The teacher administering the check with your child will give them a few practice words to read first – including some non-words – so they understand more about what they have to do. Each of the non-words is presented with a picture of a monster / alien, as if the word were their name (and so your child doesn't think the word is a mistake because it doesn't make sense!).

When is the Phonics Screening Check?

Schools will administer the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check the week commencing Monday 10th June 2024.

What does my child's score mean?

Your child will be assessed against a national standard and the main result will be whether or not they fall below, within or above this standard.

In previous years, the "pass threshold" was 32, which means children had to read at least 32 words out of 40 correctly. The threshold mark is communicated to schools at the end of June, after the test has been taken, so that teachers can mark the Check.

You will be told how your child did, but schools’ results will not be published. If your child’s score falls below the standard, they will be given extra phonics help and can re-take the Phonics Screening Check in Year 2.

For an example of a previous assessment, please look at the attached document.