Phonics Screening Check: A Parent's Complete Guide

My son failed the phonics screening check. Not dramatically. He got 29 out of 40. The pass mark that year was 32. He retook it in Year 2 and got 38. He now reads Harry Potter.

The phonics check is not a high-stakes exam. It's a quick one-to-one check to see if your child can decode words using phonics. Most children pass. Some do not. If they do not, they try again the following year.

What Is the Phonics Screening Check?

It's a short test that checks whether children can use phonics to read words. It happens in Year 1, usually in June.

Children sit one-to-one with a teacher (sometimes their own teacher, sometimes another adult from the school). They read 40 words aloud: 20 real words, 20 nonsense words (pseudo-words).

The teacher ticks whether they got each word right or wrong. That's it. No writing. No comprehension questions. Just reading words aloud.

When Does It Happen?

The check window is set by the Department for Education. In 2027, it will take place during the week of Monday 9th June to Friday 13th June.

Schools decide exactly when within that week. Your child might do it on the Monday or the Friday. You will not be told in advance which day.

You'll get a letter in May explaining what the check is and when the check window is.

What Words Do They Read?

There are 40 words:

• 20 real words (e.g., "chip", "strain", "float")
• 20 nonsense words (pseudo-words) (e.g., "strom", "terg", "phloom")

The nonsense words test whether children are genuinely decoding using phonics, rather than recognising words they've memorised.

Nonsense words are marked with a picture of a little alien, so children know they're made-up words.

What Is the Pass Mark?

The pass mark (called the "threshold") changes slightly each year. In 2024, it was 32 out of 40. It's usually between 32 and 34.

The threshold is set after all the checks are marked, based on national performance. Schools do not know the exact pass mark when they administer the check.

What Happens If Your Child Does Not Pass?

They retake the check in Year 2, during the same June window.

In the meantime, they get extra phonics support at school. This might be small-group sessions, one-to-one reading, or additional phonics practice.

Most children pass the retake. It's not a disaster if they do not pass first time.

How to Help at Home

The best thing you can do is read with your child regularly. Every day, even if it's just five minutes.

When they're reading, encourage them to sound out unfamiliar words rather than guessing from pictures or context.

You can also:

• Play phonics games. Apps like Phonics Play, Teach Your Monster to Read, and Alphablocks are good.
• Practise nonsense words. Make up silly words and ask your child to read them (e.g., "blim", "frot", "snark").
• Read their school reading book with them. Schools send home books matched to their phonics level. Read these, even if they seem too easy.

Do not drill them. Do not make it stressful. Keep it light and playful.

Do You Need to Prepare Your Child?

Not really. The school will prepare them. They do phonics every day in Reception and Year 1.

Most children do not even realise they've been tested. It just feels like reading words with a teacher.

You do not need to buy workbooks or hire a tutor unless your child is significantly behind and the school has recommended extra help.

When Do You Get the Results?

You'll get your child's result at the end of the summer term, usually in their end-of-year report. It will say whether they met the expected standard (passed) or did not meet the expected standard (will retake in Year 2).

You will not get a detailed breakdown of which words they got right or wrong.

Keeping Track of School Updates

The phonics check letter usually comes home in May, along with about 47 other letters about sports day, trips, and non-uniform days.

I built My School Agent to keep track of all the school information that comes via email. It extracts the key details and adds them to a daily briefing, so I know what's happening without manually combing through my inbox.