Year 1 Phonics Screening Check 2018 Parent Information Evening

Objectives To understand what the Y1 Phonics Screening Check is all about. To understand how you as parents/ families can help. To answer any of your questions.

What is phonics? Phonics is recommended as the first strategy that children should be taught in helping them learn to read and spell. Words are made up from small units of sound called phonemes. Phonics teaches children to be able to listen carefully and identify the phonemes that make up each word.

GPCs They are taught GPCs. This stands for grapheme phoneme correspondences. This simply means that they are taught all the phonemes in the English language and ways of writing them down. These sounds are taught in a particular order. The first sounds to be taught are s, a, t, p.

Terminology Digraph- 2 letters one sound – c ow Trigraph- 3 letters one sound - n igh t Split digraphs- 2 vowels with a consonant in between (magic e) – sh i n e

Blending Children are taught to be able to blend. This is when children say the sounds that make up a word and are able to merge the sounds together until they can hear what the word is. This skill is vital in learning to read.

Segmenting Children are also taught to segment. This is the opposite of blending. Children are able to say a word and then break it up into the phonemes that make it up. This skill is vital in being able to spell words. shop – sh-o-p

What is the Y1 Phonics screening check? The phonics screening check was introduced in 2012. It is a statutory assessment for all children in Year 1. The Phonics Screening Check is meant to show how well your child can use the phonics skills they’ve learned up to the end of Year 1, and to identify students who need extra phonics help.  The check is very similar to tasks the children already complete during phonics lessons.

When will it take place? Every Year 1 child in the country will take the assessment in the same week. Week beginning Monday 11 June 2018, attendance is very important in this week. Section one and section two- All children can access.

What’s on it? The checks consist of 40 words and non-words that your child will be asked to read one-on-one with a teacher. Non-words (or nonsense words) are a collection of letters that will follow phonics rules your child has been taught, but don’t mean anything. Your child will need to read these with the correct sounds to show that they understand the phonics rules behind them. The 40 words and non-words are divided into two sections – one with simple words and one with more complex words.

Nonsense Words Each of the nonsense words is presented with a picture of a monster / alien, as if the word were their name (and so your child doesn't think the word is a mistake because it doesn't make sense!)

How will it be carried out? 1:1 with a teacher Up to 10 minutes Rest breaks if necessary

Scores Your child will be scored against a national standard, and the main result will be whether or not they fall below, within or above this standard. For the past five years, the "pass threshold" was 32, which means children had to read at least 32 words out of 40 correctly. The threshold mark is communicated to schools at the end of June, after the test has been taken, so that teachers can mark the Check. You will be told how your child did, but schools’ results will not be published. If your child’s score falls below the standard, they will be given extra phonics help and re-take the Phonics screening check in Year 2.

How school will support? Daily phonics - 30 minutes in differentiated groups. Send home spellings weekly to learn to read and spell consolidating sounds taught in school. On going assessments. Interventions to boost gaps from now and throughout the year.

How can I help my child prepare? You can help your child prepare for their Phonics Screening Check by going over the phonics they’ve learned in Reception and Year 1. Read new books and stories with them where they will be introduced to new words that they’ll have to sound out. Phonics is not the only thing needed to become a fluent reader. Keep asking questions about books.

Keep it fun!

ENJOY PLAYING WITH LETTERS AND SOUNDS AND STORIES – YOUR CHILD IS ONLY 5 OR 6! Keep it fun! Love learning! Don’t worry… we are here to help!

Questions?

Thank you!