Year 1 parents - the phonics screening check

Dear parents

Here is some very valuable information about the phonics screening check for your child.

The Year 1 phonics screening check is an assessment that is administered to all Year 1 pupils in England to assess their phonic decoding skills.

The check consists of a list of 40 words (20 real words and 20 pseudo-words), which the child reads aloud to their teacher. The purpose of the check is to identify children who may be struggling with phonics, so that they can be provided with additional support to help them catch up.

There are several benefits to the Year 1 phonics screening check.

Firstly, it helps to ensure that children are receiving the phonics instruction they need to become fluent readers. Phonics is a foundational skill for reading, and it is essential that children develop strong phonics skills in order to progress in their reading ability. By assessing children's phonics skills in Year 1, teachers can identify any gaps in their knowledge and provide targeted support to help them improve.

Secondly, the check helps to identify children who may be at risk of falling behind in their reading. Early identification of reading difficulties is crucial, as it allows teachers to intervene early and provide the necessary support before the gap becomes too large.

Finally, the check provides valuable data to schools and policymakers about the effectiveness of their phonics instruction. By tracking the results of the check over time, schools can evaluate the impact of their phonics teaching and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that all children are receiving the best possible instruction.

You can find a presentation here.

We also have a more general hand out here.