Y1 Phonics Screening Check
Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
The Phonics Screening Check is a mandatory, annual assessment in England for Year 1 pupils to evaluation their ability to read and blend souns (phonics decoding). The check involves reading aloud a list of 20 real words and 20 nonend or 'alien' words, with each alien word accompanied by a picture of an imaginary creature. The purpose is to identify children who need extra support with phonics, ensuring they receive timely help to develop their reading skills and prepare for Year 2.
- Reading Real Words: The child reads a list of 20 familiar words.
- Reading Nonsense Words: The child reads 20 "alien" or nonsense words. These are words that do not exist in English but follow phonetic rules.
- Using Phonetic Decoding: The focus is on how well children can break down words into their individual sounds (segmentation) and then put those sounds back together to form words (blending).
Administrator and Child:
The check is administered by a teacher or another adult who reads the words with the child, who then responds by reading them aloud.
- Identify Support Needs: The main goal is to identify children who are not yet confident in their phonic decoding skills.
- Provide Targeted Support: Children who do not meet the standard are given additional phonics support by the school.
- Retake Opportunity: Pupils in year 1 who fail the test have the opportunity to retake the check in Year 2.
- Inform Parents and Teachers: The check provides parents and teachers with information on a child's progress in phonics.
Key Details:
- For Whom: It is primarily for Year 1 pupils. Children who have not passed in Year 1 will retake it in Year 2.
- When: The check typically takes place in June.
- Statutory Requirement: It is a statutory assessment, meaning it is a legal requirement for schools to carry it out
Other Information:
-The threshold in 2025 was 32 words out of 40 (80%) and is likely to be similar in future years but it can change slightly.
- All children need to be able to identify sounds associated with different letters, and letter combinations, and then blend these sounds together to correctly say the word on the page. The same skill is needed whether the word is a real word or a non-word.
- The words gradually get harder through the check as the combinations of letters become more complicated. As long as the child has said approximately 32 out of the 40 words correctly, they will be considered to have met the standard.
- Children should not realise that they are being formally assessed. The check should be seen as part of their everyday phonics activities and not as a test.
How can you helpo at home?
- Please access the DFE Phonics Practise materials to practise past phonics screening checks with your child.
- Access our phonics screen parent guide: Read, Write Inc Parent Guide
