Children complete a word-reading check at the end of Year 1 to ensure they are being taught to read successfully with phonics as the route to decoding.
Children read 40 words – 20 real words and 20 pseudo words. It takes between two and five minutes.
If they do not manage to read 32 of the words, they are given extra support, and repeat the check at the end of Year 2.
The ‘pass’ mark of 32 is subject to change by the government and schools will be notified some time in June of this figure.
All children at St. Thomas More CVA will be supported to learn phonics using the Little Wandle SSP Programme.
Year 1 will take the Phonics Screening check during the Summer term of 2024. Children in Year 2 who did not pass the Phonics Screening Check in Year 1 will re-sit the Check during the same week.
Websites to help support your child in preparation for the Phonics Screening Check
In the games, the focus for children should be decoding the word by applying their phonic knowledge. Children should be discouraged from saying what real word a psuedo/nonsense/alien sounds like.
If you have any questions about the Phonics Screening Check, please contact the class teacher in the first instance.