Phonics

What is the phonics screening check? Across the country each June, all children in Year 1 take part in a ‘Phonics screening check’. The check is designed to see whether children are able to read to the appropriate standard for their age. In the test, children will use skills key for reading: decoding and blending.

What is phonics? flash shrimp crayon ai (pain, train) Children begin learning letters and their sounds in EYFS. To help the children remember what sounds letters make, each sound is given a special action. ai (pain, train) Once children have learnt the sounds that letters make, they can use this to help them read and spell words independently. Letters and sounds are blended together to make words. flash shrimp crayon

What happens during the check? The test contains 40 words. The children read each world aloud to Mrs Tomkys who oversees the Phonics tests. The test takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, although children will always be allowed to take this at their own pace. The test is made up of 20 real, and 20 nonsense words.

Nonsense (alien) words Nonsense words will be presented to the children with a picture of an alien alongside. Nonsense words are included because they will be new to all children; they do not favour children with expansive vocabulary or a good visual memory. They test the children’s ability to decode letter sounds, and blend them together.

An example of the check:

What happens with the results? You will be told if your child has passed in your Summer Report. Children who don’t achieve the acceptable standard will retake the test in Year 2.

How to help your child at home… Recalling sounds out of words Short, focused, and fun! Use the cards in your pack: put them on the fridge, ask your children to turn them into flashcards (add glitter!), write them in bubbles, on the bus window, play games (make them as imaginative and silly as possible!)…

How to help your child at home… Finding sounds in words Make words with the children using tiles- who can make the silliest? Make it into a race- how many can you read in a minute? Turn your words into a sentence.

How to help your child at home… Using a sound mat when writing I-spy games Tongue twisters Rhyming games and stories

Some helpful websites- Youtube: Alphablocks, Mr Thorne Does Phonics BBC www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures​ The School Run www.theschoolrun.com/what-magic-e​ Primary Tools http://primarytools.co.uk/pages/phonics.html​ Phonics Play www.phonicsplay.co.uk/​ Letters and Sounds www.letters-and-sounds.com Family Learning www.familylearning.org.uk/phonics_games.html​