Year 1 Phonics Screening Check 2025: A Parent’s Guide to Success

If you're a parent of a Year 1 child, you may have heard about the Phonics Screening Check, but you might not be sure exactly what it involves or how to best support your child at home.

The good news? With the right preparation and a stress-free approach, your child can go into the check feeling confident and ready! Keep reading to find out exactly what the check is, what to expect, and practical ways to help your child succeed.

What is the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check?

The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is a short assessment designed to check how well children can decode words using phonics skills. It is:

✅ Administered in primary schools across England week beginning June 9th 2025 for Year 1

✅ Made up of 40 words – a mix of 20 real words and 20 nonsense (alien) words

✅ Designed to assess a child’s ability to recognise and blend sounds to read words

All Year 1 children take the check, and those who do not meet the required score typically retake it in Year 2 to ensure they are on track with their phonics skills.

What is the purpose of the Phonics Screening Check?

The main aim of the check is to assess whether children are developing strong phonics decoding skills—an essential foundation for fluent reading.

It also helps schools to:

📌 Identify any children who may need extra phonics support before Year 2

📌 Ensure their phonics teaching is effective for all learners

📌 Provide targeted interventions to help struggling readers

This check is not a formal exam — it simply helps teachers understand how well a child is progressing with phonics. There is a pass mark which is generally 32/40 and you usually find this out near your child's end of year report.

If you're unsure whether your child is on track, your child’s school should provide feedback at parents’ evening or if that's not an option you could have a chat with their class teacher. It’s always worth asking:

• How is my child progressing towards the Phonics Screening Check?

• Are there specific phonics sounds we should practise at home?

  
  

How to Tell If Your Child Needs Extra Phonics Support

Not all children find phonics easy. Some common signs that your child may need extra support include:

❌ Struggling to recognise certain digraphs (e.g. sh, th, ch) and trigraphs (e.g. igh, ear)

❌ Finding it hard to blend sounds together when reading words

❌ Guessing words instead of using phonics decoding strategies

❌ Getting frustrated or avoiding reading practice

📌 If you’re unsure where your child is at, we offer a 30-minute Phonics Screening Check Readiness Assessment. In this session, we assess their phonics knowledge, blending skills, and confidence in reading, then provide a personalised plan for home support.

Send an email to: info@littlelearnerstutoring.co.uk to get a check booked in.

How to Help Your Child Prepare for the Phonics Screening Check

Here are some easy at-home phonics activities to help your child practise blending, decoding, and building confidence before the check.

1️⃣ Daily Flashcard Practice (5 minutes a day)

Use phonics flashcards to review sounds quickly throughout the day—at breakfast, in the car, or before bed.

✅ Use a mix of familiar and tricky sounds

✅ Stick to 10 cards max at a time and rotate them daily

2️⃣ Play ‘Spot the Sound’ in Words

Print out words from past Phonics Screening Check practice lists and:

✔ Use bingo dabbers or coloured pens to highlight the digraphs/trigraphs

✔ Sort words by sound patterns to help recognition

3️⃣ Fun Phonics Games to Boost Confidence

🕐 Against the Clock: Set a 1-minute timer and see how many words your child can read before time runs out.

🪰 Swat the Sound: Lay out word cards, say a sound, and have your child swat the matching word with a fly swatter or spoon.

🗺 Treasure Hunt Word Builder: Write word sounds on sticky notes, hide them around the house, and have your child find and build the word before reading it aloud.

4️⃣ Use Online Phonics Games & Resources

Here are some top-rated phonics websites for free games and practice:

🎮 Phonics Bloom

🎮 Phonics Play

🎮 Twinkl Phonics

Introducing the Ultimate Phonics Through Playbook for Year 1

Want to help your child feel fully prepared and confident for the Phonics Screening Check—without boring worksheets or endless drills?

The Ultimate Phonics Through Playbook for Year 1 is a fun, easy-to-follow guide designed to help your child master key phonics skills through play-based learning.

Inside, you’ll find:

✅ Engaging phonics games that make blending and segmenting fun

✅ Step-by-step activities tailored to the Phonics Screening Check

✅ Practical daily exercises that fit into busy family life

✅ Confidence-building strategies to help your child read fluently

✅ Bonus: Printable word lists & flashcards to reinforce tricky sounds

Why Parents Love It:

✔ Takes the stress out of phonics practice – no pressure, just play!

✔ Designed by an experienced teacher & tutor – so you know it works

✔ Keeps children engaged – no more “I don’t want to do phonics!” battles

✔ Helps children develop a love for reading that lasts beyond the check

You can grab yours here: https://stan.store/Littlelearnersuk/p/ultimate-phonics-through-playbook--year-1

The Phonics Screening Check is not something to fear—it’s simply a tool to identify areas where children may need more support.

With the right practice, encouragement, and a fun approach, your child will develop the skills they need for reading success in Year 1 and beyond!

💡 Got questions? Drop a comment below or get in touch—I’m always happy to help!

📌 Share this post with other parents who might find it useful!