• Year 1 • Phonics Screening Check
The phonics screening check is a short reading check that every Year 1 pupil in a state school in England takes in June. This guide explains how it works, the 2027 dates, the latest results and what the Curriculum and Assessment Review decided about its future.
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The Quick Answer
- The check asks Year 1 pupils to read 40 words aloud to a teacher, one to one.
- In 2026 the expected standard was 31 out of 40. The mark is not shared with schools until after the check.
- Pupils who do not meet the standard retake the check in Year 2.
- The Curriculum and Assessment Review recommended that the check remains.
What Is the Phonics Screening Check?
The phonics screening check confirms whether pupils have met the expected standard in phonic decoding, the skill of sounding out and blending letters to read words. All state-funded schools with a Year 1 class must hold the check.
A teacher sits with each pupil and records whether they read each of the 40 words correctly. Each pupil gets a mark from 0 to 40.
The Expected Standard
The checks are written to the same specification every year, but the words change, so the mark needed can vary slightly. In 2026 the threshold was 31. This was the first change since the check was introduced in 2012, when the threshold was 32. Since 2014, schools have not been told the threshold until after the check has been completed.
When Is the Check?
| Academic year | Check week |
|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | Week from Monday 14 June 2027 |
| 2027 to 2028 | Week from Monday 12 June 2028 |
| 2028 to 2029 | Week from Monday 11 June 2029 |
Pupils who do not meet the standard in Year 1, or who were not checked, take it again at the end of Year 2.
National Results
In 2026, 82% of pupils met the expected standard in Year 1, up from 80% in 2025. This is the first time results have returned to the pre-pandemic level of 82% seen in 2018 and 2019. By the end of Year 2, 89% of pupils had met the standard.
| Year | Year 1 pupils meeting the standard |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 58% |
| 2019 | 82% |
| 2022 | 75% |
| 2025 | 80% |
| 2026 | 82% |
68% of disadvantaged pupils met the standard in Year 1, a gap of 17 percentage points with other pupils.
What Did the Curriculum Review Decide?
The Curriculum and Assessment Review, published in November 2025, said the evidence for phonics is strong and recommended that the check remains. It also asked the Department for Education to find ways to assess the decoding of pupils who are non-verbal or pre-verbal and cannot read words aloud.
In its response, the government set an ambition for 90% of children to meet the expected standard. It also reinforced its expectation that all primary schools use a systematic synthetic phonics programme. The arrangements for 2026 to 2027 are unchanged.
How to Help at Home
- Read with your child every day, even for a few minutes.
- Ask your child’s teacher which sounds they are learning so you can practise the same ones.
- Encourage your child to sound out and blend unfamiliar words rather than guess.
- Keep it fun and short. Little and often works best at this age.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the pass mark for the phonics screening check?
The 2026 threshold was 31 out of 40. The mark can change each year and is not shared with schools until after the check.
What happens if my child does not pass?
They take the check again at the end of Year 2. Ask your child’s teacher how they will support your child’s phonics in the meantime.
Will I be told my child’s result?
Yes. Schools must report your child’s phonics screening check score to you by the end of the summer term.
Is the phonics check being scrapped?
No. The Curriculum and Assessment Review recommended keeping it and the government has set an ambition for 90% of pupils to meet the standard.
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Sources: Department for Education, Phonics screening check attainment 2025/26, Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report and government response; Standards and Testing Agency, Primary assessments: future dates.
