What is the Year 1 phonics screening check?

The phonics screening check is taken individually by all children in Year 1 in England and is usually taken in June. This year, the check will take place between Monday 8th June and Friday 12th June 2026 and will be completed with a familiar adult. The check is designed to give teachers information on how each child is progressing in phonics and ensure they are making the appropriate progress.

What is in the phonics screening check?

There are two sections in this 40-word check and it assesses phonics skills and knowledge learned through Reception and Year 1.

• 20 are real words (for example: milk, whirling, sequins).
• 20 are pseudo or “alien” words (for example: zewp, blan, glork).

Pseudo or alien words are phonically decodable but are not actual words with an associated meaning. We call them alien words in our daily phonics lessons. These are included in the check specifically to assess whether your children can decode a word using their phonics skills. The children know they are alien words and will not make sense because the word has a picture of a friendly alien next to it.

Your child will probably complete the check in one sitting lasting usually between 5-10 minutes.

How will my child be scored? Is there a pass mark?

The focus of the check is not passing or failing but checking the appropriate progress is being made. The score your child achieves will be shared with you in their written school report. If your child does not reach the required standard, our phonics lead will plan additional support to ensure that your child can catch up and you will receive an intervention letter explaining this. Your child will re-sit the check the following summer term, in Year 2.

For the last few years, the pass mark set by the government has been 32 words read correctly out of 40.

How can families support at home?

There are lots of simple ways to help your child feel confident and prepared:

• Listen to your child read regularly, both before and after the phonics screening check.
• Each week, your child is sent a weekly Virtual classroom message on EduLink. Watch and join in with these virtual lessons, they will give your child extra practise.
• Your teacher, will send home extra reading materials, so children can practise reading real and alien word in the lead up to the check.

You can support your child by following these steps:

If you have any questions about the Phonics Screening Check, please speak to your child’s class teacher or contact Miss Mitchell, our Phonics and Reading Lead.