Phonics test

[CandOdad]

My son tells me he was told his score straight after his test today. Is this normal since last year my daughter had no clue till we got her end of school report. Also is it the norm for his teacher to carry out the test? Again the only reason I ask is because that wasn't the case for DD last year.

[candlesandlight]

Perfectly normal for the class teacher to carry out the test but don't agree with telling the child their score.

[Hillfog]

Yes, the normal Yr1 teacher took the test at our school but scores weren't given to the children at the time. They'll go out with reports.

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

Perfectly normal for the teacher to carry out the test. Not sure about giving the mark, but I don't see why not. Obviously they won't know what the pass mark is for another week so you'll have no idea what that mark means unless it was very high or very low.

[cariadlet]

The guidance says that "The phonics screening check must be administered on a one-to-one basis by a teacher who is known to the child." so that would normally be their own class teacher.

I didn't generally tell the children their scores - just told them how well they'd done and how proud I was. The score sheet has 2 columns and against each word you either tick the correct column or the incorrect column. I think the idea is that children don't see crosses and get upset that they have got some words wrong.

I did have some children who just had a couple of ticks in the incorrect column and worked out that those were the ones that they'd got wrong

[CandOdad]

I have asked mil to check with teacher tomorrow since she is on pickup. I hope he is right but then I will feel bad for doubting him and not taking him at his word, he has form for thinking one thing and another being true but then again don't they all at that age?

[CandOdad]

He knows we are proud of him no matter what, he has come along brilliantly in this last year since we felt he was somewhat labelled as the "naughty" boy in his reception class.

[HowDoesThatWork]

My son got told his score straight after the test yesterday.

[Lindy2]

At our school the children have a letter to take home that says they did the phonics screening test that day, how many of the 40 words they were able to read correctly and an explanation that although last year's threshold score was 32 that may not be the case this year and confirmation of the threshold level will follow when available. I like their approach. It keeps the parents well informed.

[CandOdad]

Thanks for the help

[Johnny5isAlive]

My son had his on Monday and was also told he got 40/40 and that meant he didn't need to 'do phonics' in Y2.
He was upset that that didn't equal a free play time though

[cariadlet]

My son had his on Monday and was also told he got 40/40 and that meant he didn't need to 'do phonics' in Y2.

I hope he misunderstood and that he was told that he wouldn't have to retake the phonics check in Year 2. The English language is so complex that there's still plenty to teach in Year 2.

[Johnny5isAlive]

Goodness knows cariadlet. We weren't told about the screenings, it was only that I googled it on Monday after DS mentioned it.
From what I read it's used as a guide as to the level of phonics help needed in Y2

[SockPinchingMonster]

Last year my DTs had their phonics test with the class teacher and were told they had achieved 40/40 straight away. Don't think the teacher told every child their score though.

[mrz]

The Phonics Screening Check is used to identify which children may require additional support in phonics. It only assesses basic phonics not all the alternative ways sounds can be spelt in English.
Schools that continue to teach phonics in Key Stage 2 don't do it because pupils failed to score 40/40 in the check they do it because it supports spelling.

[mrz]

I didn't tell the children but I had a mum ask me yesterday his her daughter had done and didn't see any reason not to tell her although explained we won't know the threshold mark until the 29th.

[mrz]

How not his

[Galena]

DD was told her mark immediately and given a sticker 'because she got 40'. I sincerely hope they gave a sticker to all the children, regardless of mark.

[Heels99]

Unfortunately phonics continues regardless of test result!

[notinminutenow]

Why "unfortunately"?

Phonics instruction isn't complete by end y1. In good schools it continues in y2 for all, with specific and targeted help for those children who did not reach the pass threshold in the check.

[CB2009]

My son's test was performed on Monday by the Head of KS1 who had taught his class in Reception. We have had a new teacher in Y1 this year so guess that could be reason. He and we have not been told the result. Assume in report in a couple of weeks time. My son reports 1 tick in 1 column and all other ticks in the other column. He is reporting as 39/40. I have my fingers crossed that it is not 1/40!

[mrz]

Schools can't provide results at the moment only a score as we don't know what the "pass" mark is until the 29th

[PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom]

DD1 doesn't really care about the test, but did care greatly that she got a sweet at the end .

As it should be really.

[Elmersnewfriend]

What's your feeling re the pass mark Mrz? Is it likely to go up do you think?

[mrz]

The head teachers union has called for it to be lowered but I would be surprised if there is a significant change.

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

They only have a very limited scope for changing the balance of the questions don't they? So I'd imagine you wouldn't ever need to move the pass mark very much unless you wanted to make the test much easier or harder to pass.