1. Year 1 Phonics Screening Check Yearsley Grove Primary Mrs White

2. Who is it for? The phonics screening check is a statutory assessment for ALL children in Year 1. The check is also administered to all children in Year 2 who did not pass the previous year.

3. Why is it happening? The phonics screening check is designed to confirm whether children have learnt phonic DECODING (reading) to an appropriate standard.

4. Who will administer it? The phonics screening check must be administered by a TEACHER who is KNOWN TO THE CHILD. The teacher can only administer the check with one child at a time.

5. When will it take place? The phonics screening check will be administered on any day during a week in June. Any child who is absent can be tested on the following week only.

6. Where will it be administered? The check will be administered in a quiet, comfortable room where the teacher and child will be able to clearly hear each other.

7. How long will it take to administer? The check should take between 4 - 9 minutes for each child, although there is no time limit. Rest breaks are allowed and encouraged

8. What is the check? The children will read a list of 40 words divided into two sections of 20 words. SECTION 1 – simple word structures (taught in FS2) SECTION 2 – more complex word structures (taught in Year 1)

9. What is the check? The list is a combination of ‘real’ and ‘pseudo’ or ‘alien’ words. This is to ensure that children’s phonic decoding is checked as opposed to their visual memory.

10. How is it scored? The teacher must record whether the child’s response to each word is ‘correct’ or ‘incorrect’. The teacher will have to record an ‘incorrect’ response if the child does not BLEND the letters.

11. What is the Pass Mark? The pass mark will only be available from the Department for Education. The children’s scores will then be recorded as either Pass or Fail.

12. How is it reported? Teachers must tell parents whether or not their child met the required standard. This information is included on each child’s end of year report. We choose to inform parents of the score.

13. How can parents help? Read as often as you can with your child. Help them to blend words smoothly. Check out these websites: phonicsplay.co.uk or ictgames.com