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

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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?

Ooh yes, same, had lots of lovely debates about favourite aliens and one which looked like Megamind :-)

I'm glad it wasn't a big deal for your DS, LJBanana.

DD hasn't mentioned anything yet, and she's on a trip tomorrow. Anyone know if the checks all need to be done this week?

Yes, checks are just this week, unless a child is off sick.

Thanks IsitFriday I thought that was the case.

I'm starting mine today

I thought it was easier too, isitfridayyet - opinions, mrz?

yes seemed easier and same sound appeared in number of words

I expect the "pass" threshold will go up, so not making assumptions about success rate yet! I'm expecting either 34 or 35, what do others think?

I have my fingers crossed for 33!!!

...maybe we are just all amazing at teaching phonics ;)

Of course it is cremedecacao, what else could it be?

Would make sense for it to go up if the test was easier.

Someone on TES was suggesting 35 last night. Unless the test was very, very easy I can't see them going any higher than that without a significant outcry about the government fixing the results to make a point. Particularly with it being the first year they aren't releasing the threshold until after the testing.

35 would be OK but would prefer 33

I think it'll be 33. The cynic in me says it's easier to make the government look good just as the Y6 SPAG and Maths papers seemed much more straight forward this year too. Obviously just my opinion.

Unfortunately 33 / 35 makes very little difference to my school's overall scores this year. Either they are 35+ or < 30. Most have been fine, but those who struggled are way below the threshold and already following Bear Necessities / Dancing Bears, but various additional learning difficulties means progress is being made, but not sufficient to reach the expected level now.

Not a bad shout given that this is the last set of tests before the general election. Definitely need to shift gears from blaming the last government for poor standards to crowing about how much they have improved things.

I was told that when the results are inputted online (or submitted or whatever) that it comes up wt or wa for pass or fail.

I've heard that some schools have submitted their results already and got the wt and wa response.

I've input mine and all say wt, even the 40/40!

Oh really. Maybe as these were the year 2 retakes it used the same pass mark as last year.

I have no clue about any of this but was trying to figure it out.

When I first started this evening I accidentally put a new to the UK year 2 child's score in a year 1 column. Then it gave wa. So I guess you may be right, LostTeacher, and it was using last year's threshold. All will become clear in a couple of weeks time, hopefully!

When do they release the pass mark? And when will the words be available to look at? I'm very intrigued by all the comments that it's fairly easy.

30th June I think for the threshold mark to be released. You are not allowed to make the words available until after the 2 week window for completing the check. So next Friday at the earliest. Although I though I'd read somewhere that the DoE had made websites remove lists of words from the previous checks so not sure if they will be officially at all.

Rafa is correct - Final submission of data is 27th June, threshold will be available on the gov.uk website on Monday 30th June. We were told words were completely confidential until Mon 30th.

I have Y2s doing the test tomorrow - all the Y1s have done them Mon-Wed this week. So just those who didn't get it last year tomorrow.
In my class I think we have 6 redoing it - 4 I reckon will def get it this time; 1 most likely not; 1 borderline.

They've all had extra phonics support both in and out of class. All had the chance to come to an early morning phonics focus group with their parents for 10 weeks over the last 3 months too.

the 1 who is unlikely to get it this time has had lots of support but is still struggling with reading and writing; under learning support at the moment and awaiting further assessment.

I really hope the pass mark isn't 34+, this will make a big difference to our results! Will be telling parents that in my eyes 30+ is a pass anyway (some of these children have made amazing progress, it seems sad that they have 'failed'!)