Statutory Assessment KS1
The Phonics Screening Check is a short assessment used in England to evaluate how well children Year 1, are learning to read using phonics. It helps teachers identify which pupils may need additional support with reading.
Administered in June each year.
Takes about 5–10 minutes per child.
Conducted one-on-one with a teacher.
The child reads a list of 40 words aloud:
A mix of real words and pseudo-words (nonsense words, e.g., "zog" or "splim").
Pseudo-words are used to test pure decoding skills (not memorization).
Checks whether the child can decode words using phonics rules.
Helps schools and parents understand how well children are progressing in early reading.