What is the Year 1 phonics screening check?

What the phonics check is

Children in England learn to read using phonics: matching letters and groups of letters to the sounds they make, then blending those sounds into words. The phonics screening check shows whether each child can do this by the end of Year 1, so schools can spot who needs more support early.

It is not a reading test in the wider sense. It doesn't check understanding or love of books. It only looks at whether your child can decode words they haven't seen before.

What happens on the day

• Your child sits with a familiar adult, usually their teacher, and reads 40 words aloud, one or a few at a time.
• 20 are real words and 20 are pseudo-words. Pseudo-words are made-up words, such as "strom" or "blig", and are usually shown next to a picture of an alien so children know they are names, not real words.
• The words get gradually harder, moving from simple sounds to letter teams like "ai", "igh" and "ow".
• It usually takes just a few minutes. There is no writing and no time pressure.

The alien words matter because a child can't have learned them by sight. Reading them correctly shows real decoding skill.

When is the phonics check in 2027?

Schools give the check during the week of Monday 14 to Friday 18 June 2027. Children who are absent can take it from 21 to 25 June. Your child's teacher can tell you the day if you'd like to know.

What is the pass mark?

The "pass mark" is officially called the threshold mark. It is not published in advance: for 2027 it will be published on 28 June 2027, after children have taken the check.

In 2026 the threshold was 31 out of 40. It had been 32 every year since the check began in 2012, so 2026 was the first change. Some websites still show 32, so check the date of anything you read. Nobody can promise what the 2027 mark will be.

In 2026, 82% of Year 1 children met the standard, and 89% had met it by the end of Year 2.

Results and the Year 2 retake

The school must tell you your child's result by the end of the summer term, usually in their report. If your child doesn't meet the standard, the school will give extra phonics support and your child will take the check again in June of Year 2. Many children who need a second go do well with that extra year. If you'd like to know what the school is doing to help, ask the teacher.

The phonics check applies in England. Northern Ireland is introducing its own low-stakes Year 2 phonics check, with the first one in June 2027.

How to help calmly at home

• Use the school's sounds. Ask the teacher which phonics programme they use and how they say the sounds. Pure sounds ("mmm", not "muh") make blending easier.
• Read the school reading book together every day you can, even for a few minutes. These books match the sounds your child has learned.
• Play with silly words. Make up alien names and take turns reading them. This is good practice and it keeps things light.
• Keep reading for fun separate. Read stories to your child that they couldn't read alone. Enjoyment of books is just as important as decoding.
• Don't build it up. Many children don't even realise they have done a check. There's no need to mention it at home.

🔤

Letter Sounds and Blending: Read Words with Bip the Robot

Learn letter sounds and blending: match letters to sounds, hear first sounds and push sounds together to read… Ages 4–640 min ♡

🔤

Phonics Digraphs: Two Letters, One Sound with Pip

Learn phonics digraphs such as sh, ch, ai and igh. Drag letters into teams, tap sound buttons and blend words… Members · chapter 1 freeAges 4–635 min ♡

🔤

Digraphs and Trigraphs: A Letter Teams Island Adventure

Learn digraphs and trigraphs like ay, oy, ir and are, plus split digraphs, by joining letter teams, popping s… Members · chapter 1 freeAges 5–745 min ♡

📖

Year 1 Tricky Words: Heart Words and Days of the Week

Learn to read and spell Year 1 tricky words and the days of the week, find each word's tricky part and read I… Members · chapter 1 freeAges 5–740 min ♡

🔤

Year 2 Phonics: Blend, Read and Spell on Word Island

Learn Year 2 phonics: blend new words, try alternative sounds, read long words and suffixes, and spell with n… Members · chapter 1 freeAges 6–760 min ♡

For more ideas, see how to help your child with phonics at home.