What is Phonics?
Children begin to learn phonics (sounds) in early years, both nursery and reception. Once children begin learning sounds, these sounds are used orally to identify and make words. They will then begin to learn the letters which make each of the sounds and these are used to read and spell words.
What is the Phonics Screening Check?
Children in Year 1 throughout the country will all be taking part in a phonics screening check during the same week in June. Children in Year 2 will also take the check if they did not achieve the required result when in Year 1 or they have not taken the test before.
The phonics screening check is designed to confirm whether individual children have learnt phonic decoding and blending skills to an appropriate standard
What Happens During the Test?
The test contains 40 words. Each child will sit one-to-one and read each word aloud to a teacher. The test will take approximately 10 minutes per child, although all children are different and will complete the check at their own pace. The list of words the children read is a combination of 20 real words and 20 pseudo words (nonsense words).
Let’s have a look at a test.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploa ds/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/809986/2019_p honics_pupils_materials_standard.pdf
How Can I Help My Child at Home?
• Check their phonics folders each night and practice the sound they have been learning in school
• Read as much as possible to and with your child, especially the phonics book they take home from school
• Encourage and praise – get them to have a ‘good guess’.
• If your child is struggling to decode a word, help them by encouraging
them to say each sound in the word from left to right.
• Blend the sounds by pointing to each one, e.g. /c/ in cat, /p/ in pat, /ng/ in sing, /ee/ in been. Next move your finger under the whole word as you say it.
• Discuss the meaning of words if your child does not know what they have read.
More information below!
Year-1-Phonics-Screeening-Check-Presentation-for-Parents