The Phonics Screening Check will take place in June 2024.
The purpose of the Phonics Screening Check is to assess each child's ability to decode certain words and identify pupils who may need additional support. Decoding means sounding out an unfamiliar written word.
During the check, the children will be asked to decode a series of 40 words. While most of these words will be real words, there will also be some alien words (also known as nonsense words, psuedo-words or non-words) mixed in. The alien words will be accompanied by an image of an alien to help the children identify them. They reason alien words are included in the check to ensure children are able to use their decoding skills and do not just rely on their memory on known words.
The 40 words, which are made up of real and alien words, are divided into two sections. The first section will have a variety of simple word structures with three or four letters. Section 2 will have 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 alien words – so they understand more about what they have to do.
Recommended Phonics Activities
Mr. Thorne Does Phonics
http://www.youtube.com/user/breakthruchris
http://www.mrthorne.com/
If you are unsure how to correctly pronounce any of the sounds go to Mr. Thorne Does Phonics where you can watch videos of Mr. Thorne or his friend Geraldine the Giraffe teach the sound and discuss words including it. He also has apps for Android and Apple available.
Phonics Play
www.phonicsplay.co.uk
This is a very popular website we use regularly in our phonics lessons. The children will be familiar with the website and its games. Some of our favourite games are:
Some of the games are available for free, others require a subscription (only £12 for a year).
Twinkl Phonics App
This app includes lots of different sections covering phonic sounds, letter formation, high frequency words and games such as buried treasure and matching games.
Alphablocks
This is not a website we have used in class but it involves interactive videos that children can watch and then are able to make up words with the given letters. It allows them to practise sound recognition and blending.
Phonics Books
Revisit pages in your child’s phonics book to practice reading and spelling a good range of words. Don’t forget to look for the high frequency and tricky words!
More websites with phonics games on:
http://www.ictgames.com/literacy.html
http://www.schooljotter.com/showpage.php?id=183569
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/literacy/