How to prepare your school for the phonics screening test

As speech delays increase following COVID-19 lockdowns, what can schools do to support children involved in phonics screening checks with administrative processes and considerations?

Most children should be able to identify simple words by the end of Year 1, making this is an appropriate time to carry out a phonics screening test to check whether this knowledge has been securely acquired. 

In research conducted this year ASCL found that attainment in the phonics screening test had decreased in comparison to attainment in 2019 and, as reported by the BBC, this mirrors the increase in child speech delays following COVID-19 lockdowns. 

It’s important, then, that schools do all they can to carry out these checks correctly and provide students with the correct administrative practices and considerations they need in order to generate reliable data – data which will be crucial in signposting the next steps needed to support these children.

Identifying responsibilities 

The headteacher is responsible for a number of considerations, decisions and tasks in the preparatory stages of a phonics screening check. These include: 

• identifying which pupils should take the test;
• considering whether any students will need special consideration, or modifications, such as a braille version;
• ensuring all check administrators are appropriately trained;
• ensuring that pupils are in a fit physical and mental state to take the check;
• ensuring the check is administered once only to each eligible pupil;
• ensuring pupils’ responses are scored accurately and consistently;
• ensuring any pupils who do not meet the expected standard continue to receive support in phonics;
• reporting any incident that affect the integrity, security or confidentiality of the check to the Standards and Testing Agency;
• following the annual statutory data collection requirements by submitting check results to the local authority (LA) for all eligible pupils, by the deadline communicated to them by the LA;
• completing and submit the phonics screening check headteacher’s declaration form by given deadline.

Which pupils will participate?

All pupils who have reached the age of six by the end of the school year must take the check during that academic year. Pupils who will have turned seven by the end of the academic year, but have not yet taken the test, or did not meet expected standards in a previous phonics screening check, must also take the test. 

For a new pupil joining the school who will turn seven by the end of the academic year, the school must confirm if the pupil should participate in the check by using information from their common transfer file. When deciding whether it is appropriate for a pupil to take the check, the headteacher has the final decision. 

Considerations

Pupils with special considerations may not be required to take the check, or they can receive a modified version.  If a pupil has limited English the headteacher may decide that they should not take the test; if a pupil has recently moved to the country and is unable to understand letters and sounds in English, they should not take the check. 

For pupils who use British Sign Language, or other sign supported communication, support to take the test can be provided. Pupils who are mute, or selectively mute, must not take the test if they do not give verbal responses aloud in school; however, selectively mute pupils may demonstrate their knowledge at home with a family member, who can pass on the results to the teacher. For pupils that require a Unified English Braille version of the phonics screening test, schools can order the relevant materials by contacting the national curriculum assessments helpline.

Keeping materials secure

Schools must ensure that the integrity of the check is maintained to make sure no pupils gain an advantage. Phonics screening check materials must be kept confidential from the moment they are received, and check administrators must not discuss the content with anyone or use the check words to prepare pupils; any school behaviours that lead to check materials being shared before the test date could lead to a maladministration investigation.

Avoiding maladministration

The term ‘maladministration’ refers to any act that affects the integrity, security or confidentiality of national curriculum assessments, or leads to results that do not reflect pupils’ unaided work.

In order to avoid this, schools can take necessary steps to protect staff involved in administering the check, as misunderstandings about the administration of the check can lead of allegations of maladministration. Make sure all staff, participating pupils and their parents understand:

• how the check will be administered;
• what assistance is, and is not, allowed in the check.