Year One Phonics Screening Check

What is The Phonics Screening Check?

Year One children in state schools are tested on their phonics knowledge by being asked to read forty words out loud. Half of the words are real words and the other half are ‘alien words.’ All of the words can be sounded out using phonics sounds. Children are told when they are reading real words or ‘alien words’ such as vay or quish.

When does it happen?

Children will be tested at some point between Monday 11^th June and Friday 15^th June. Any children absent during that week can be tested the week after.

Will my child be aware of the check?

Schools try their best to keep the check very low key. Most children will be unaware that they are being tested. They are likely to be asked to go to a quiet area with a teacher that they know and read some words. Year One children all over the country will already have been doing this for the last few months as part of preparations for the check.

What’s the pass mark?

For the past few years, the expected standard to pass the check has been a score of 32 or more out of 40. The government may change this threshold mark. Schools will find out what this year’s threshold is on 25^th June.

When will I know my child’s results?

Head teachers have a duty to report individual scores to their parents by the end of the summer term. Most schools inform parents of their child’s results in the school reports.

What if my child doesn’t pass the check?

The test is designed to identify children who have difficulties decoding words using phonics and are not where they should be for their age. Every child is different but, if your child doesn’t meet the required standard, this could mean that they are struggling with their reading.

Schools are expected to give specific support to children who do not meet the expected standard and tell the parents what this support is. Children then have to be considered for a retest in Year 2.

Does every child in a state school have to take the check?

No, but they have to be considered for it. There are different reasons that children may not take the check. For example, children who are selective mutes or children who have recently moved to the UK and are unable to understand English letters and sounds. Schools should inform parents if their child is not taking the check and explain why this is the case.

Comments

Preparing to Potty Train

I do not have the perfect method for potty training. I am not an expert. I found potty training my daughter to be really, really hard work. This blog aims to share my experiences about how we prepared for potty training. I have found a great deal of support and encouragement from other parents, people who have been through similar experiences. Sometimes conversations make me think- ‘I’d never do that!’ or ‘Great idea’ or just reminded me that I needed to get on and do something. I hope that reading this is like having an encouraging friend. We started quite early for most children in the UK at 20 months. Back in the 70s and 80s this was pretty common from what I can gather so I decided to just get on with it. There were some reasons which influenced my decision- Little Lady wore cloth nappies some of the time and truthfully, I was fed up of the dreaded soaking bucket in the garage. She also hated having her nappy changed by this age and would cry and scream- I’d had enou...

Review of Gangsta Granny by Heartbreak Productions.

In 10 years time, my children won’t specifically remember the occasions that I picked them up from school, cooked our favourite pasta dish or watched their swimming lesson. But they will remember some of things that we did that were out of the ordinary. They will remember some of the memories that we made together. As we headed out of the door on Friday evening, I knew we were making memories. I was just hoping it wasn’t going to be because the whole family had got soaked to the skin sitting in a park on a Friday night watching a play. We had a flask full of hot chocolate, a box of malteasers and some large umbrellas borrowed from a neighbour. We were heading to a Heartbreak Productions outdoor show in Walsall Arboretum. It was pretty exciting heading out in the evening and walking through an empty park to get to the bandstand where the show was being staged. When I told Little Lady what we were going to see, she was extremely excited. In fact, we all were because ...

MiniBrum

What is it? MiniBrum is a play space for under eights based on the theme of a mini Birmingham. There are different areas for children to explore including a canal barge, a construction zone and a shop. The whole of MiniBrum is designed to support children’s role play and exploration of real life spaces. The unique interactive gallery has been created with the input of over 800 children and families from across Birmingham. Where is it? Mini Brum is part of ThinkTank which is Birmingham’s science museum. MiniBrum is on the third floor next to the recently revamped planetarium. Entry to ThinkTank is £14 per adult and £10.25 per child. Under 3’s are free and during Birmingham term time there is a special adult and toddler (aged 3-5) ticket for £15. Another great offer is the £3 per person entry fee after 3pm on term time weekdays. When does it open? It opens to the public on 25 th May in time for half term. I would expect it to be very busy. My advice woul...

Capable Child

Search This Blog