What happens if DC is not at school for phonics test?

[Readytomakechanges]

A friend has booked a holiday for the week of the Y1 phonics test.

She wants to know whether her DC will be tested on a different date and whether her DCs results (Or lack of) will ruin the schools stats.

Thank you.

Is she bothered? The school should provide the child with additional phonics support in year 2 if they need it. They’ll probably do enough ‘practise’ before the holiday for teachers to know!

Not really bothered, but the teachers seemed to be at the recent parents' evening.

They just do it a different day.

It's 'practice', actually

The phonics check window is open for two weeks.

It was a typo. And to think I usually respect your posts.

Couldn't resist, I'm afraid - a pointed, but misspelt, barb just doesn't have the same effect in inverted commas! I

It's also a Y6 spelling objective, so I'm seeing them everywhere atm.

They’ll just do it a different day.

It's a screening, and they should do it a different day. If they do not do this, your friend should ask if they will.

It's pretty important that DC who need to continuing support (which schools should consider for all who show gaps during the screening) actually get it, rather than struggle for any longer than they need to,

It’s not really a test tbh. It is but it also helps the teachers see who needs more help.

I think PSC is the only official test done 100% for the benefit of children.
If the child didn't pass, it's either the child has problem and get support, or school's phonic teaching is inefficient. It's not about stats.
So if your friend booked the holiday to avoid PSC, she is totally misunderstanding the purpose of this check.

Tbh also if they do rwi or a similar programme they are tested all the way through anyway to make sure they are in right ability group.

Thanks everyone

School have a window, think it's 2 weeks, in which to do the phonics test. If a kid misses it, then it affects the school stats and kid will have to do it in year 2, alongside the other current year 1 kids that fail this year. School are bothered because they get the kids ready for it, and this holiday will (in their eyes) affect the child's chance of passing, or even registering a result. This is a national test, results reported in the same way as for SATS. Parents need to discuss more fully with school as to whether their DC will be able to take the test this year

I didn't know that if they missed it in yr1, they needed to take it in yr2 along with the ones who failed. That makes it even more silly for parents to miss it on purpose.

Just realised that is why there’s two figures on the school data (yr1 and yr2)