Autumn 2021 phonics screening: how to administer the check

Last reviewed on 30 July 2021
School types: All · School phases: Primary
Ref: 4548

You're required to administer a past version of the phonics screening check to year 2 pupils who missed the year 1 summer check because of coronavirus. Be clear on your responsibilities, including how to report the results to your local authority.

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Contents

  1. What is it and who needs to take it this autumn
  2. Who shouldn't take the check
  3. Where to access materials
  4. When and where to administer the check
  5. Know your responsibilities
  6. How to use access arrangements
  7. Reporting the results

This article is based on the DfE's latest guidance on administering the phonics screening check to year 2 pupils in the second half of the autumn term. It's a statutory requirement to administer the test and it applies to all maintained schools, academies, free schools and maintained nursery schools with eligible pupils. 

What is it and who needs to take it this autumn

It's a short assessment to make sure all pupils have learned phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. It contains:

  • 40 words divided into 2 sections of 20 words
  • A mixture of real words and pseudo-words (nonsense or fake words). Pseudo-words are accompanied by a picture of an imaginary creature

This is explained in guidance on the structure of the check from the Standards and Testing Agency (STA).

This will mostly be incoming year 2 pupils who missed the summer

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