Phonics screening check 2025: A guide for teachers

Author: Teachit's editorial team
Published: 24/01/2025

What is the phonics screening check?

The phonics screening check is a standardised assessment designed to evaluate Year 1 pupils' phonics decoding abilities. As a primary school teacher in England or Wales, understanding the phonics screening check is crucial for supporting your pupils' reading development.

To help you prepare for phonics screening check 2025, we've created a comprehensive guide along with a handy teacher checklist that breaks down everything you need to know.

What's new for 2025

Stay ahead of the latest changes with our overview of updates to administration guidance and modifications from previous years. For comprehensive support with phonics teaching, explore our complete collection of phonics resources.

Key changes and updates for the 2025 check include:

  • The check window will run from Monday 9 June to Friday 13 June 2025
  • Schools must submit their completed check data by Friday 27 June 2025
  • Headteachers must submit the headteacher's declaration form by Friday 27 June 2025
  • Results will be available in the 'Analyse School Performance' service by the end of the summer term

Maintained guidance from previous years:

  • The check remains compulsory for all Year 1 pupils, and Year 2 pupils who did not meet the expected standard in Year 1
  • Schools must still follow the check administration guidance to ensure validity and reliability
  • Teachers administering the check must complete mandatory training to ensure standardised delivery

Note: Schools should regularly check the Standards and Testing Agency's updates for any additional guidance throughout the academic year.

Administration requirements

Understanding who can administer the check and what training is required is essential for compliance. You'll need specific materials and resources to conduct the assessment properly.

Phonics screening check format and structure

The check consists of 40 words divided into two sections:

  • Section 1: Real words
    • A mix of common and less familiar words
    • Tests application of phonics skills to decode regular words
    • Contains words with simple and complex grapheme-phoneme correspondences
  • Section 2: Pseudo-words (nonsense words)
    • Marked with alien characters to indicate they are not real words
    • Tests pure decoding ability without vocabulary knowledge
    • Helps identify if children can apply phonics rules independently

Each word is presented on a page with a clear, simple font. Children read each word aloud to their teacher.

Our general phonics resources can help pupils master both real and pseudo-word reading skills.

Preparing for the phonics screening check 2025

Effective preparation is key to pupil success. Focus on:

  • Implementing targeted teaching strategies
  • Using practice materials effectively
  • Supporting pupils who need extra help

Enhance your teaching with our phase-specific resources:

For additional support, consider our comprehensive phonics teaching pack, available for £15 or included with a Premium subscription.

Get creative with your phonics teaching using our innovative teaching ideas for Reception.

Frequently asked questions about the phonics screening check

Who needs to take the phonics screening check?

The check is mandatory for all Year 1 pupils in England and Wales.

What is the format of the check?

The check consists of two main sections:

  • Section 1: Real words evaluation
  • Section 2: Pseudo-word assessment

For practice materials, explore our complete phonics resources collection.

Who can administer the check?

The check must be administered by qualified personnel following specific training requirements. Details about administration requirements and necessary training can be found in your school's guidance.

What support arrangements are available?

Access arrangements are available with specific qualification criteria for modifications, various support options and required documentation.

How should we prepare pupils?

Effective preparation includes:

  • Implementing targeted teaching strategies using our phase-specific resources:
  • Using practice materials effectively
  • Providing additional support for struggling readers

Get creative with your preparation using our innovative teaching ideas for Reception.

What are the reporting requirements?

Teachers are responsible for:

  • Recording assessment results accurately
  • Communicating outcomes to parents
  • Using the data to inform future teaching practices

Where can I find additional resources?

We offer a comprehensive phonics teaching pack, available for £15 or included with a Premium subscription, along with extensive phase-specific materials to support your teaching.

Teachit's editorial team

The editorial team at Teachit consists of experienced teachers and subject specialists who curate, write, edit and check our content to ensure it is useful, insightful and of the highest quality.