1. The Phonics Check 2015 TheSchoolBus Guide

2. What is this and what does it mean for you? The DfE has replaced the previously published assessment and reporting arrangements (ARA) handbooks with an online only version. This guide summarises the information from the DfE and the Standards and Testing Agency (STA), and is for headteachers and local authority (LA) assessment coordinators. TheSchoolBus Guide offers a concise but thorough summary of the key information relevant to you.

3. What is the ARA? The key stage 1 (KS1) ARA describes the statutory requirements for schools delivering the KS1 programmes of study with regard to assessment and reporting. The ARA ‘s legal basis comes under section 87(3) of the Education Act 2002. The ARA applies to: Maintained schools, including maintained special schools, with pupils in KS1. Maintained nursery schools with pupils who will reach the age of six before the end of the school year. Academies and free schools, according to their funding agreements. Participating independent schools. Pupil referral units and maintained hospital schools where a child is registered at another maintained school. Service children’s education schools. Participating non-maintained special schools.

4. Phonics screening check The phonics screening check is designed to confirm the phonic decoding knowledge of pupils and identify pupils who require extra support. The check consists of 20 real words and 20 pseudo-words that must be read out to a teacher, not a teaching assistant. All year 1 pupils must undertake the phonics check. The only exceptions are: –Those who haven’t shown any understanding of grapheme-phoneme correspondences. –Those who have recently moved to England and are unable to understand English letters and sounds. –Pupils who use non-verbal communication such as British sign language. –Pupils who are mute or selectively mute. Any year 2 pupil who did not meet the required standard in year 1, or has not taken the check before, must also take it. Pupils do not have to be registered to take the check. The phonics check takes place during the week commencing 15 June and packs must not be opened before that date. The check must be administered in accordance with the STA’s guidance.

5. Administration and monitoring Phonics checks must be administered on any of the days specified. Headteachers must ensure that the check administration guidance is read by teachers delivering the phonics check. To ensure the security and validity of tests, the LA or STA will make unannounced monitoring visits to schools administering the tests. You should be prepared to let visitors: –See all phonics check materials and delivery notes. –Observe checks being administered. –See copies of correspondence and other documents sent to, and received from, the LA or STA about the administration of the tests. If there are administrative irregularities or evidence of maladministration, a full investigation will proceed. LAs have a statutory duty to make monitoring visits to at least 10 percent of maintained schools. Academies created before 1 September 2014 must choose which LA they come under for monitoring purposes. Academies created after this date will be part of their geographical LA’s arrangements.

6. What’s next? To read the full guide which includes information on the phonics check and the key stage 1 assessment and reporting arrangements, subscribe to TheSchoolBus.subscribe To download the additional material about the national curriculum tests, take a look at our Primary Assessment and Reporting topic.Primary Assessment and Reporting Our expert partners, HCSS Education, have created a Lesson Observation Form specifically for Early Years phonics.Lesson Observation Form Find a great weekly phonics planning template in our Planning in the Early Years topic.Planning in the Early Years