Children in Year 1 take part in a phonics screening check to test the phonic skills they have learned by the end of the year. The check consists of 40 words and non-words which your child will be asked to read one-on-one with a teacher. Non-words (or nonsense words, or pseudo words) are a collection of letters that will follow phonics rules your child has been taught, but don’t mean anything – your child will need to read these with the correct sounds to show that they understand the phonics rules behind them.

The 40 words and non-words are divided into two sections – one with simple word structures of three or four letters, and one with more complex word structures of five or six letters. The teacher administering the check with your child will give them a few practice words to read first – including some non-words – so they understand more about what they have to do. Each of the non-words is presented with a picture of a monster / alien, as if the words are the monsters name-this is so your child doesn't think the word is a mistake because it doesn't make sense!).

The following table compares the percentages by phonics result for the school in 2020 with the national results for 2019.

Figures may not add up to 100 because of rounding and because percentages for L and Q marks and missing marks are not included.