Phonics Screening Information

Year 1 Phonics Screening Information 

Children in Year 1 throughout the country will all be taking part in a phonics screening check during the same week in June. Children in year 2 will also take the check if they did not achieve the required result when in Year 1 or if they have not taken the test before. 

How will the children know which words are ‘alien’ (nonsense) words?

The made-up ‘alien’ words are always presented with a picture of an alien, so the children know that they are not real words that they might recognise. They are very familiar with this concept. 

How will the phonics screening be administered?

Each child is taken through the screening check by a teacher on a 1:1 basis. This will be in a quiet area and there is not a time limit. 

Will we be told about our child’s results?

The results of the check will be issued in the end of year reports.

What is the pass mark?

The standard threshold pass mark for this year’s phonics screening check will be published at the end of June (after the children have sat the check). Last year the pass mark was 32 out of 40.

What happens if my child doesn’t pass the phonics screening check?

Any child that does not reach the standard threshold will sit the screening check when they are in year 2, with the following year’s cohort of year 1s.

When will the phonics screening take place?

The government requires that the check must be taken during the week commencing 10th June. A pupil may only take the check the following week if they were absent during check week. 

If a pupil doesn’t take the check during this period and returns to school after Friday 21st June they must be recorded as absent.

How can we support our child out of school?

Support your child by sharing their Read Write Inc reading books at home and practice red words, green words and unknown sounds. 

An excellent website for phonic games is: http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/ All phonics phases are covered on this website. 

Read as much as possible to and with your child. When children become more capable readers they develop the skill of word recognition. However, it is important that children continue to practise good sounding out and blending so they don’t fall into the trap of guessing the wrong word. 

Which phonics phase will the phonics screening check focus on? 

The check includes graphemes from all of the phases taught to the children since they started school. (Read Write Inc sets 1-3).