How to Support Your Page Master Through the Phonics Screening Check

As a parent, it feels like school assessments are always looming. And while I’ve got a while to go with my daughter—she's only just finishing nursery and starting Reception in September—I know many of you are deep into phonics territory right now. If your child is in Year 1, chances are the Phonics Screening Check is coming up soon — scheduled for 9th–13th June this year.

The good news? If your Page Master is taking the check, it’s a great opportunity to understand how they’re progressing with their early reading skills. And as a Page Keeper, there are simple, effective ways to support them at home—even if phonics still feels like a bit of a mystery.

As a teacher who has taught phonics for over 13 years and administered the screening check many times, I want to share everything you need to know.

What Is the Phonics Screening Check?

The Phonics Screening Check is a short, simple assessment used in all primary schools in England at the end of Year 1. It’s designed to test how well children can apply the phonics skills they’ve been learning to decode words.

Here’s what it looks like:

• Your child will read 40 words aloud to their teacher.

• The check includes 20 real words and 20 pseudo (nonsense) words.

• Nonsense words are made-up, pronounceable words like “blim” or “shert”. They’re marked with a little alien symbol so children know they’re not real.

• Children are scored out of 40. The pass mark is usually 32, although this can vary slightly.

• If a child doesn’t meet the expected standard, they’ll have another chance to take the check in Year 2.

But it’s important to know: this is not a high-stakes test. It’s simply a way for schools to identify children who need a bit more help with decoding words.

Why Is It So Important?

Phonics is the foundation of reading. If a child can confidently break down words using phonemes (the smallest units of sound) and graphemes (the letters that represent those sounds), they can begin to unlock the whole reading world.

When children pass the screening check, it means they’re secure with their phonics knowledge and ready to move on to more advanced texts.

If they don’t pass, that’s okay too — it simply means they need a little more time and support. Schools will continue working with them, and they’ll get another shot next year.

How Can Page Keepers Help at Home?

You don’t need to be a teacher to support your child with phonics. Here are some tried-and-tested ways to help build your Page Master’s confidence:

1. Play Phonics Games

There are loads of free resources online (like Phonics Play and Teach Your Monster to Read), and you can also make simple games at home:

• Sound bingo

• Word hunts

• Alien vs. Real word sorting

2. Blend Sounds Together Out Loud

When reading together, encourage your child to say the individual sounds in a word and then blend them. For example:

“c-a-t… cat!”

Model it yourself if they get stuck. The more they hear and try, the easier it becomes.

3. Use Real and Nonsense Word Practice

Practise blending with both real and silly words. This builds fluency and prepares them for the format of the screening check.

4. Stick to the Scheme (If You Know It)

Many schools follow a phonics scheme like Read Write Inc., Letters and Sounds, or Little Wandle. If your school uses one, try to mirror the approach and terminology at home.

Not sure which scheme your child is following? Ask the teacher — they’ll be happy to help.

5. Keep It Light and Positive

This should never feel like a test at home. Make phonics part of everyday life — spotting sounds on signs, making silly rhyming stories, or creating your own alien word challenges.

Free Download: Try a Practice Screening Test at Home

I’ve created a simple Phonics Screening Check example for you to use at home. It follows the same format as the real test and includes a mix of real and nonsense words. It’s a great way to check in and gently assess how your child is doing — or just get familiar with what’s coming.

👉 [Click here to download your free Phonics Screening Test Example]

Final Thought from One Page Keeper to Another

It’s easy to get caught up in results, but this check is just one piece of the puzzle. The best thing we can do is support our Page Masters with consistent routines, a positive attitude toward reading, and a bit of curiosity and play.

You’re not alone in this — you’re part of the ReadUp community of Page Keepers raising confident, joyful readers one sound at a time.

More phonics tips (and free resources) are on the way. You’ve got this.