The Phonics Screening Check: a calm guide for parents

In June of Year 1, your child will read 40 words to their teacher. This is the Phonics Screening Check. It sounds big, but for most children it takes a few minutes and feels like reading with a grown-up they know. This guide explains what happens, how it is marked and what the result means.

What the check is for

The check tells the school whether your child can use phonics to read words they have not seen before. Phonics means knowing which sounds the letters stand for, and blending those sounds into a word. Schools use the result to spot children who need a little more help with reading. It is a check for the school, not a test your child passes or fails in front of anyone.

All schools in England that are funded by the government give the check to children in Year 1. That includes maintained schools, academies and free schools. Independent schools can choose.

When it happens

The check takes place in June of Year 1. The Department for Education (DfE) sets the exact week each year. Your child’s school will tell you the week, and you can check gov.uk for the date. Schools can give the check on any day in that week, so your child may not know it is happening until the day.

What happens on the day

Your child sits with a teacher, usually one they know, somewhere quiet. It is one to one, with no other children watching. The teacher shows one word at a time, often four to a page. Your child reads each word aloud. There is no time limit, and children can take a short break if they need one. Most children finish in a few minutes.

The 40 words

There are 40 words in two sections of 20.

• Section 1 uses simpler words and the sounds children learn first, such as s, a, t, p, sh and ai. Most words are short, like “hat” or “chip”.
• Section 2 uses harder words and sounds learned later, such as ay, oy and the split digraph in “cake”. Some words have two consonants together, like “stamp”, or two parts, like “sunset”.

About half of the words are real words, and about half are made-up words. The made-up words are called pseudo-words, and they appear next to a picture of an alien. That tells your child the word is an alien’s name, so it will not make sense and it is fine that it does not. Our guide to alien words explains why the check uses them.

How it is marked

The teacher marks each word as right or not yet. Your child can sound a word out first, then blend it. What counts is the word they say at the end. Regional accents are fine. For alien words, any sensible way of reading a sound is accepted. For example, “ea” can sound like the “ea” in “bead” or in “head”.

The words do not have to be read quickly, and your child does not need to know what a word means. Real words in the check can all be read with phonics, so tricky words such as “said” or “the” are not in it. Our guide to tricky words in Year 1 explains why.

The threshold

A child “meets the expected standard” if they read enough words correctly. That number is called the threshold. The DfE confirms the threshold each year after the check. It has been 32 out of 40 in recent years, but it can change, so check gov.uk for the current year.

The threshold is not a pass mark your child needs to worry about. Many children read more than 32 words. Some read fewer, and that is useful information for the school, nothing more.

What happens after the check

The school will tell you your child’s result by the end of the summer term, often in their report. If your child did not meet the expected standard, the school will give them extra support with phonics in Year 2. They will then take the check again in June of Year 2. Some children with particular needs may not take the check at all. That is the head teacher’s decision, and they will talk to you about it.

How you can help at home

• Read with your child for a few minutes most days. Short and regular beats long and rare.
• Use pure sounds. Say “mmm”, not “muh”. Our guide to pure sounds has every sound to listen to.
• Play with alien words. Make up silly names and read them together.
• Keep it light. Children read best when they feel safe to have a go.

Our guide to helping your child with phonics at home has ten three-minute activities that need nothing but you.

What Xenly does, and what it doesn’t

Xenly helps your child practise the skill the check looks at: reading new words sound by sound. Every creature in Xenly is named by an alien word, so your child reads alien words every day. The Big Migration is a calm practice run of 40 words in two sections, like the real check. Your child sees only a celebration at the end. You see the details.

Xenly does not replace your child’s teacher, and a Big Migration result is not the real check. We cannot tell you your child’s official result. Only the school can. See how Xenly works and what it costs.

Questions parents ask

Should my child revise for the check?

No. The check looks at a skill that grows with regular reading. Gentle practice helps. Cramming or drilling does not, and it can make children anxious.

What if my child gets nervous?

Most children do not know it is anything special. It helps not to make a big thing of it at home. The teacher is used to helping children feel relaxed.

Can I see the words beforehand?

No, the words are new each year and kept secure until after the check. The DfE does publish past checks on gov.uk, which you can use for practice. Our guide to practice materials compares the options.

What if English is not my child’s first language?

Your child takes the same check. Phonics can be a real strength for children learning English. Our guide for EAL families has ideas.

Does the result go on my child’s record?

Schools report results to the local authority and the DfE. The result is used to plan support. It is not a grade that follows your child around.