Phonics Screening Check
The Year 1 phonics screening check is not a formal test, but a way for teachers to ensure that children are making sufficient progress with their phonics skills to read words and that they are on track to become fluent readers who can enjoy reading for pleasure and for learning.

We already have detailed assessments of your child's phonics ability so this will not tell us anything new but is a check to ensure that your child is working at a nationally agreed age appropriate standard.

The phonics screening check for current year 1's will take place June 2025.

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 after the children have sat the check. In previous years the pass mark has been 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 2026 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 9th June. A pupil may only take the check the following week if they were absent during check week.

How can we support our child out of school?

Support your child by sharing their reading books at home and practice 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. (Phases 2-5).