How much help can teachers give children in the Y1 Phonics Test?

[housebox]

DC had phonics test today.

They think they go to play a game so I asked him how the game went and asked him if the words were hard or easy.

He said. "Some were hard. I had to sound them out but I got there in the end"

This gave me the impression that someone had prompted him to sound them out and the phrase "got there in the end" isn't something he would use so it sounds as though the teacher got him to sound them out and then when he had done it correctly marked it.

Of course I might have it all wrong but what level of help are teachers able to give?

Ours was today too. We were told that the children have to sound out the words but that the teacher had to accept their first answer, so they couldn't have a few goes at getting a word right. I think she also said that the pass mark wouldn't be determined until a couple of weeks after?

I'm sure a teacher will be along soon to put us straight. The children seemed to come out of school announcing how many they got right in any case

The teacher must not give any help and must accept the child's final answer (not first) they can have as many attempts as they want.

They shouldn't only be accepting their first answer. They should be accepting the final answer, even if that answer is incorrect and an earlier answer was correct.
They shouldn't really be giving any help either. Even phrases like 'try again' or 'have another go'.

This is the script the person administering the check gets

Teachers should introduce the phonics screening check as consistently as possible, bearing in mind some children may require more explanation in order to understand the task.
The check materials include a double-sided ‘practice sheet’ with four pseudo-words and four real words on each side. This can be used to familiarise children with the task. If a child is struggling to decode the words on the ‘practice sheet’ you should stop the check and discuss with your headteacher whether the child should participate in the check (see
section 2.4.1).
During the practice, you can give further guidance to ensure children understand the task. For example, you may remind the child that the word must be blended, which would not be allowed during the check itself.

The following text provides an example of how you could introduce the check.
•
In this activity, I am going to ask you to read some words aloud.
•
You may have seen some of the words before and others will be new to you.
•
You should try to read each word but don’t worry if you can’t. If it helps you, you may sound out the letters before trying to say the word.
•
This ‘practice sheet’ shows you what the words will look like.
•
Have a go at reading out loud these four words which you should have come
across before [at, in, beg and sum].
•
The words on this side [turn over ‘practice sheet’] are not real words. They are names for types of imaginary creatures. You can see a picture of the creature next to each word.
•
Can you read out the words on this page for me [ot, vap, osk and ect]?
•
Ok, now we are going to start reading out the words in this booklet and I’m going to write down what you say on my sheet.

In this booklet there are four words on each page. I will tell you at the start of each page whether they are real words that you may have seen before or names for types of imaginary creatures.
•
The first page has names for types of imaginary creatures and you can see their pictures.
•
Can you start reading the words to me?
It is important to tell the child whether they are real words or types of imaginary creatures on each page.
You can point to whole words to indicate which word comes next but you must be careful not to point to the words in a way that indicates how to decode them, for example, pointing from left to right or hovering over letters.

Thanks for the info. Maybe DC just tried sounding them out before hand- I can't get any more out of DC and don't want to push it as I don't want them to start worrying about it!

I haven't looked at the check yet ... we went on a trip instead

It seems "easier" this year to me mrz, just one word is catching my cocky readers who aren't looking carefully.

DD did her phonics check today & said she got them all correct.

She has twigged (possibly wrongly) that if the person doing the check writes more & writes the word that she said, then it's wrong

Don't put much stock in this however as I am sure there will be words with more than one correct answer eg the sound "ow" as in "ow, I hurt my finger" or "ow" as in "grow"

Thanks IsItFridayYetPlease I'm starting mine on Wednesday give them chance to calm down after the trip.

Simpson I write down their answer right or wrong

Sorry for the wrong info. I'm sure that's what we were told at the meeting unless I wasn't listening properly

I do however have a very worried looking and subdued little boy tonight so I think something is bothering him. Hoping it's not the check...

You can take rest breaks too. Some of mine stopped half way to sing a song/have a wriggle/do something else to help them refocus.

Looking forward to doing ours tomorrow, always have a lovely day with the children, some Y1s are delightfully bonkers and allowed to read one to one with special stickers

What happens if they fail then?
My dd is in year 1 and we've had no mention of them doing this, although obviously they must be.

If they don't meet the standard, they will get some extra help with phonics next year, then retake it in year 2.

My Kindle ate some of my post - was meant to say 'and they all love reading one to one with special stickers'

Its the twenty minute discussion about the alien pictures that the occasional child wont let go off that makes me smile! Can they see and read better if they have one eye or three?

of not off! More coffee please!

I'm dreading this. It's this week for my DS he's already said some children have for stickers for getting them all right. He struggles and I want him too pass. I know it's not a massive deal in the grand scheme of things, but I just don't want him to struggle and feel frustrated then know that he's got it wrong if he doesn't get a sticker. My DS has said the sticker thing so he may well have for it wrong as I'm sure the teacher wouldn't single them out for passing/failing, I'd assume she'd give them all one.

I can imagine my child feeling the need to comment on every single alien word e.g. 'stromp?' That's s silly me, isn't it? Stromp! It's like stomping, shrimp, stromp!'.

While the poor, long-suffering teacher is saying 'Can you please just read the next name?' through gritted teeth.

[Disclaimer: I have lots of respect for DD's teachers and am sure they will be fully competent at keeping the kids focused!]

LJBanana the children aren't supposed to know how many they got right. I would put money on the guess that ALL children in your DS's school get stickers- but they just haven't realized yet!

Yes I thought this as his teacher is great and I think that he's just seen them get a sticker after playing 'the game' with the teacher.
I know that I'm being unreasonable in my worries about it. He really struggles and although he won't even know if he's passed it or not, I will know and it's just horrid knowing that that might be the first of many things that he may not pass. I'm just being soft as he's my first to go through it and still seems so little to be tested. A grip needs to be got!

LJBanana, dont look at it as a test, look at it as a way to pinpoint any areas your child needs extra help. I have a feeling my son wont pass but Im not worried because I know he will receive the extra help he needs.

IsItFridayYetPlease the first year of the check I had one little boy who discussed the hair styles of each creature - a distraction he didn't need

That's what my DS would do mrz. Well he came out with a sticker and said he'd done the check. I asked if he enjoyed it, did he find any of it tricky.
He didn't seem phased so either way at least he wasn't bothered by the process.

We shall see how he got on!

We've had debates as to which alien looks like a dinosaur and which is like a teddy bear today... At least it made me .