Anyone else with a child who scored low in the phonics screening.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Was it expected

What support is being offered

What can we do at home

Was this the first you heard of any problems ?

Does anyone know when the year 1 phonics test is, (roughly) please?

W/b 12 June, I believe.

The week beginning June 12th.
www.gov.uk/guidance/key-stage-1-and-key-stage-2-test-dates

You can print off the tricky words

If you're failing the phonics screening check, I'm not sure even thinking about tricky words is a good idea, the whole point is that failing it means you're not secure in the knowledge of the phonics sounds, so worrying about words is the next step?

I think the tricky words are said - like - the etc

So yes it builds up the reading along side ai oa ng igh etc

You equally important

OH and it's part of the screening

Well she knows those words

Ok well look at precision teaching instead -

No it isn't part of the screening.

The screening is a simple blending check, testing children's ability to blend using a selection of common graphemes. There is no assessment of knowledge of 'tricky words' in it.

Thank you

My DD failed them too....or scored low...can't remember. They put in an IEP.

We moved to Australia when she was 6 and funnily enough, here, they had no concerns at school at all.

I was all anxious...asking them about their version of the IEP etc and they looked at me like and said "She's fine...she's within the range she should be at 6..."

She's 9 now and a good reader. She enjoys school and does well at literacy. Some kids DO have issues but some just aren't ready when they're very small.

No tricky words in the phonics screening check!!! Just real and pseudo words using phase 2/3/5 sounds. You can print past papers off if you want to see what they look like.

All. They would do it in year 1 with the rest of their class rather than in reception.

And, just to be clear, the tricky words are only tricky because they feature sounds which have not been taught yet. Which is why they don't turn up in the phonics screening check, which only checks sounds taught so far.

Just to pre-empt any misinformation re tricky words being non-decodable, etc.

I wasn't going to poke that argument with a stick, Feenie.

How long do you reckon we have until a bunfight ensues?

Why do the children do a practice test? I don't live in the uk.. my dc don't do practise tests or revising.
There's no pressure whatsoever and it's seen as not a big deal right through primary school

I'm a year 1 teacher and never give my class a practice "test" it's unnecessary. The whole check only takes a couple of minutes per child and is there to identify those children who need a little more help.

OkPedro, there are a few tests through primary school (notably the SATS in year 2 aged7-8 and year 6, aged 10-11) which all primary schools undertake.
It means realise can be compared to national standards and between schools to see which are underperforming (the school, not the child).

*standards

"I think the tricky words are said - like - the etc ," they are meant to be taught in exactly the same way as any other word (decoded) with the teacher explaining the alternative spellings the child doesn't yet know. Said (ai = sound /e/ ) not some strange creation that has to be taught differently.

Sorry Rafa could leave it

year 2 aged 6-7*, sorry

Place marking as I have a child similar to this

Then it's a good thing this check is there blue diamonds. Its purpose is to identify children like yours so they get appropriate help to prevent them struggling in future. I wish it had been around when my eldest was six.

Blue diamonds - you can buy phonics workbooks for year 1 quite cheaply from amazon. Maybe do a bit of practice at home, I'm going to with mine as I know there are a couple of struggle areas. Otoh I think - what if you work at home with the dcs and get them to pass but it masks the fact extra help/intervention is required... hard to know what to do for the best.

Any teachers here who can say if practice at home is a good or bad thing?

Any teachers here who can say if practice at home is a good or bad thing?

The check involves reading words (some of which are unfamiliar to them) using their phonics knowledge. Every day, Y1 children should be practising their reading.... This should involve reading words (some of which are unfamiliar to them) using their phonics knowledge. A good way to practise using phonics, rather than reading by sight, is to read Dahl, JKRowling, pokemon, Dr Seuss, non-fiction with words the children don't immediately recognise, any books where the author plays with language. So, yes, practice is a good thing but it shouldn't be 'practicing for the phonics check' it should be 'getting better at reading'.

Wherever the PSC comes up on here, someone always says 'it's useless because it uses nonsense words' but in children's literature nonsense words are commonplace and unfamiliar words are even more so. It's not some strange, out of context skill, it's an essential part of reading.

StarHeartDiamond - Not a teacher, but… if your child is likely to fail, is it because of poor phonics teaching or despite good phonics teaching?

You can generally tell whether phonics is being taught systematically and exclusively, because the child is not doing practice tests at school or at home, is not constantly talking about alien words and is not overusing Phonics Play at school.

Many pass the phonics test despite poor phonics teaching, because they’ve received support from a knowledgeable parent or has worked it out for themselves (my daughter is likely to be one of these).

Few fail the phonics test if they’ve had good phonics teaching. If the whole class has received systematic, repetitive, fun phonics teaching for a few minutes every day from the start of Reception they’ll have covered all of the sounds (to this stage) many times over. Decoding is straightforward to these children. The test is trivial.

Regardless of why your child is struggling, you’ll want them to be able to decode (read!) effectively going forwards, so I’d be inclined to step in an help at home as soon as possible (even if it ‘helps’ the school get a better score than they ‘deserve’ if they’re not teaching phonics well).