English

Message for Year  1 and 2 parents:

Below is information from the government on the Phonics Screening check for Year 1 and Year 2 pupils. Children in Year 2 only resit the Phonics screening check if they did not pass when in Year 1.

The testing window commences the week of Monday 12th June  2023. To support your children at home, please continue to  encourage them to read their decodable texts that are sent home by Year 1 staff and access the phonics resources that are on the Google Classroom.

Phonics is essential for early reading and writing. This knowledge is crucial for building the core foundations of reading and writing, which they will need throughout their education and beyond. 

What is phonics? 

Phonics is a way of teaching children to read quickly and skilfully. They are taught how to: recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes; identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make - such as ‘sh’ or ‘oo’; and blend these sounds together from left to right to make a word. Children can then use this knowledge to ‘de-code’ new words that they hear or see. This is the first important step in learning to read. 

Why phonics? 

Research shows that when phonics is taught in a structured way – starting with the easiest sounds and progressing through to the most complex – it is the most effective way of teaching young children to read. It is particularly helpful for children aged 5 to 7. Almost all children who receive good teaching of phonics will learn the skills they need to tackle new words. They can then go on to read any kind of text fluently and confidently, and to read for enjoyment. Children who have been taught phonics also tend to read more accurately than those taught using other methods, such as ‘look and say’. This includes children who find learning to read difficult, for example those who have dyslexia. 

What is the phonics screening check? 

The phonics screening check is a quick and easy check of your child’s phonics knowledge. It helps your school confirm whether your child has made the expected progress.