The government introduced its statutory phonics screening check in September 2011 for all children in Year 1. Its purpose is to assess whether children can read accurately using a selection of words that include sounds (phonemes) that they have already been taught.

The check contains 40 words, made up of 20 real words, and 20 pseudo words (known by the children as ‘alien’ words). It does not assess a child’s comprehension or reading speed, just whether they are using and applying the phonics they have been taught to read unfamiliar words.

It usually takes around 5 minutes for a teacher or other trained adult to go through the check with each child. Children in Year 1 are screened in the summer term, and any children who do not meet the expected standard are screened again in Year 2.

At Orton Wistow we have extremely high expectations for our children, and have consistently achieved above both the local education authority and the national average.

*Cancelled in June 2020 due to Covid, the children sat it in November 2020 when in Yr 2.