How to Help Your Child Pass the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check: A Parent's Guide
- Errington House
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
Did you know the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check requires children to read 40 words correctly, with 32 typically being the pass mark?
This important assessment is taken by all Year 1 children in England, usually in June each year, and serves a crucial purpose in early reading development. The phonics screening test is designed to confirm whether pupils have learned sufficient phonic decoding skills, identifying any children who might need additional support.
The check consists of 20 real words and 20 pseudowords (made-up words often shown with alien pictures), which children read aloud to their teacher. The assessment takes around 10 minutes to complete, though there's no formal time limit, allowing children to progress at their own pace.
Fortunately, with the proper preparation, your child can approach this check with confidence. Throughout this article, I'll share practical strategies to help you support your child's phonics development at home, understand what happens during the assessment, and prepare effectively for the screening check.
Understanding the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
What is the phonics screening test?
The Year 1 phonics screening check is a light-touch assessment designed to confirm whether children have learned phonic decoding to an age-appropriate standard. It consists of 40 words, divided into two sections of 20 words each, with both sections containing a mixture of real words and pseudo-words.
Pseudo-words are phonically decodable but have no associated meaning. These are explicitly included to assess whether your child can decode using their phonics skills rather than relying on memory. All pseudo-words are presented alongside a picture of an imaginary creature, providing context for children and ensuring they're not trying to match the word to their vocabulary.
Furthermore, the check is administered individually by a teacher your child knows in familiar surroundings, making it a comfortable experience rather than a stressful formal test.
Why it matters for early reading
The primary purpose of this check is to help identify children who require additional support with phonics decoding. Consequently, teachers gain valuable information about your child's progress in this foundational reading skill.
Early identification enables schools to provide additional, tailored support to children who might otherwise fall behind. This assessment ensures teachers understand which children require extra help, particularly with essential decoding skills that form the building blocks for becoming fluent readers.
Who takes the check, and when
The phonics screening check is administered to all Year 1 children in England, typically during a pre-set week in June each year. Pupils who have reached the age of 6 by the end of the academic year must take the check during that year.
Notable exceptions include pupils who:
Have shown no understanding of grapheme-phoneme correspondences
Have not completed the first year of the KS1 English program
Recently moved to the country and cannot understand letters and sounds in English
Use British Sign Language or other sign-supported communication
Are non-verbal or selectively mute
Children who don't meet the expected standard in Year 1 will retake the check in Year 2. Parents will be informed of their child's results by the end of the summer term, along with information about any additional support if needed.
Inside the Check: Format and Content
Real words vs pseudowords
The Year 1 phonics screening check cleverly includes both real words and pseudowords to thoroughly assess decoding skills. While real words test reading ability, the pseudowords (sometimes called "alien" or "nonsense" words) specifically evaluate pure phonetic decoding abilities.
Illustrations of imaginary creatures accompany all pseudowords. This serves two purposes: providing context for children and ensuring they decode the word phonetically rather than trying to match it to familiar vocabulary. Most children find these alien characters amusing, making this potentially challenging aspect more engaging.
Structure of section 1 and section 2
The check divides its 40 words equally between two sections of increasing complexity.
Section 1 contains simpler word structures, including:
CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant)
VCC (vowel-consonant-consonant)
CCVC and CVCC patterns
This first section tests single letters (a-z), basic consonant digraphs (ch, ck, ff, ll, ng, sh, ss, th, zz), and common vowel digraphs (ar, ee, oi, oo, or).
Section 2 introduces more complex structures:
CCVCC, CCCVC, CCCVCC patterns
Two-syllable words
Additionally, section 2 incorporates advanced phonics elements, including additional consonant digraphs (ph, wh), less frequent vowel digraphs, split digraphs (a-e, ai, au, aw, etc.), trigraphs (air, igh), and alternative pronunciations.
Common phonemes, graphemes, digraphs, and trigraphs
The check assesses understanding of fundamental phonics elements:
Phonemes are the smallest units of sound in words (44 in English).
Graphemes are written symbols that represent sounds – single letters or letter combinations.
Digraphs consist of two letters making one sound (like "sh" in "ship").
Trigraphs contain three letters, creating one sound (like "igh" in "night").
Split digraphs (formerly called "magic e") feature vowel sounds split by another letter, such as a_e in "game".
The check thoroughly examines children's ability to decode these various phonetic elements, requiring them to demonstrate sound manipulation skills and recall basic decoding principles.
Scoring, Results, and What Happens Next
How the check is scored
Teachers score the Year 1 phonics screening check on the spot as each child reads the 40 words. Moreover, they record responses on an answer sheet, marking whether each word was pronounced correctly. The following criteria apply when scoring:
If a child sounds out phonemes but doesn't blend them, it counts as incorrect
Alternative pronunciations for pseudo-words may be acceptable
A child's accent doesn't affect scoring
If a child self-corrects, their final answer is counted
No prompting is allowed during the assessment
Schools submit these results to their local authority by a specified deadline, using appropriate codes for children who were absent or exempted from taking the check.
Year 1 phonics screening pass mark explained
The Department for Education sets a national standard threshold that determines whether children have met the expected standard. Historically, this pass mark has consistently been 32 out of 40 words read correctly.
Nevertheless, the official threshold for the current year is never revealed until after all schools have administered the check—typically announced in late June. Schools don't need to wait for this announcement before submitting their data, however.
The 2025 phonics screening check threshold mark has been confirmed as 32. This standard has remained stable since 2013.
What if your child doesn't pass?
Children who don't achieve the expected standard in Year 1 will receive additional phonics support and automatically retake the check the following year in Year 2. Indeed, this follow-up assessment ensures they're making progress.
Following the check, schools must inform parents about their child's performance during the second half of the summer term. If your child didn't meet the standard, the school should outline what support they'll provide.
The reassuring news is that most children improve with additional support—in 2023, 89% of pupils met the expected standard by the end of Year 2. Even if a child doesn't pass in Year 2, a support plan will remain in place as they progress to Year 3.
How Parents Can Support at Home
Supporting your child's phonics journey doesn't require specialized teaching credentials. As a parent, you can make a significant difference with consistent, enjoyable activities at home.
Using phonics screening check practice papers
Practice papers are valuable tools for familiarizing your child with the format of the Year 1 phonics screening check. Many schools recommend that parents use past papers at home to build confidence before the actual assessment. These resources help children become comfortable with both real words and pseudowords they'll encounter.
To use practice papers effectively, schedule short, regular sessions rather than long, intensive ones. Be sure to praise effort rather than just correct answers. from your child's school or download them from educational websites - most schools provide links to papers from previous years (2012-2023).
Games and activities to build decoding skills
Phonics learning thrives through play! Consider these engaging activities:
Letter Swat: Write letters on sticky notes, spread them out, and have your child "swat" the correct one when you say a sound.
Word Walk: Write simple words with chalk on the pavement and ask your child to jump to each as you call it out.
Magazine Scavenger Hunt: Search for images in magazines that begin with specific letter sounds.
These activities make phonics practice feel like fun rather than work, simultaneously building essential skills.
Helping with tricky sounds and blending
Blending, which involves combining individual sounds to form words, can be particularly challenging for some children. Primarily, this difficulty stems from challenges in auditory processing or short-term memory.
For children struggling with blending, try this simple daily exercise: ask them to think of five different words to break apart into individual sounds, then blend those sounds back together. Remarkably, just five days of this practice often leads to noticeable improvements.
For longer words, cover parts of the word so your child decodes smaller chunks first, gradually building to the complete word.
Creating a positive reading environment
Establishing a supportive reading atmosphere at home is essential for nurturing your child's reading development. Design a cosy reading corner with comfortable seating and good lighting. Stock it with diverse books matching your child's interests and reading level.
Furthermore, celebrate reading achievements with genuine enthusiasm. Even small milestones deserve recognition to build confidence and motivation.
Above all, remember that phonics works best when children enjoy reading. Your encouragement and patience throughout this process will help foster a lifelong love of books.
FAQs
Q1. What is the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check? The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is a light-touch assessment for 6-year-old children in England. It consists of 40 words (20 real and 20 pseudo-words) that children read aloud to their teacher, typically in June each year. The check aims to confirm whether pupils have learned sufficient phonic decoding skills.
Q2. How can I help my child prepare for the Phonics Screening Check? You can support your child by regularly reading together, focusing on decodable books. Practice breaking down words into individual sounds and blending them. Use games like "I Spy" that incorporate phonemes, and try multi-sensory approaches, such as using magnetic letters. Also, use past screening check papers to familiarize your child with the format.
Q3. What is the expected pass mark for the 2025 Phonics Screening Check? The pass mark for the 2025 Phonics Screening Check has been confirmed as 32 out of 40 words read correctly. This threshold has remained consistent since 2013; however, it's worth noting that the official mark is typically announced after all schools have administered the test.
Q4. What happens if my child doesn't pass the check in Year 1? If your child doesn't meet the expected standard in Year 1, they will receive additional phonics support and automatically retake the check the following year in Year 2. The school will inform you about your child's performance and outline the support they'll provide to help improve their phonics skills.
Q5. How is the Phonics Screening Check scored? Teachers score the check on the spot as each child reads the 40 words. They record responses on an answer sheet, marking whether each word was pronounced correctly. If a child sounds out phonemes but doesn't blend them, it's counted as incorrect. Self-corrections are allowed, and the child's final answer is counted. No prompting is permitted during the assessment.
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