Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

The Phonics Screening Check is a short assessment taken by all Year 1 children in England during June. It tests whether children can decode (sound out and blend) 40 words -- 20 real words and 20 pseudo-words (nonsense words, often called "alien words").

The check covers sounds from Phases 2 to 5, including single letters, digraphs, trigraphs, split digraphs and consonant clusters. Children read each word aloud to their teacher, one at a time. There is no time pressure and the check is designed to feel low-key.

The pass mark is typically 32 out of 40 (it can vary slightly year to year). Children who don't meet the threshold retake the check in Year 2 and receive additional phonics support.

The screening check identifies children who need extra help with phonics before they fall too far behind. It is not a test to pass or fail in a high-stakes sense -- it is a diagnostic tool that helps schools target support.

For parents, understanding the check format reduces anxiety. When children have practised reading a mix of real and alien words, the check feels familiar and manageable. Most children who have received good phonics teaching in Reception and Year 1 pass comfortably.

1. 1

   Practise reading alien (nonsense) words at home -- make up silly words and blend them together.

2. 2

   Remind your child that some words won't be real words, and that's OK -- just sound them out.

3. 3

   Revise all Phase 2, 3, 4 and 5 sounds regularly in the weeks before the check.

4. 4

   Use flashcards for sounds your child finds tricky -- focus on these rather than sounds they already know.

5. 5

   Stay calm and positive -- children pick up on parental anxiety. Frame it as 'a fun reading activity'.

6. 6

   Read with your child every day. Broad reading exposure is the best preparation of all.