Troy's Learning News
Phonics Screening Check
In the coming weeks, Year 1 students will participate in the Phonics Screening Check. This assessment helps us understand your child’s ability to blend phonic sounds learned throughout Reception and Year 1.
Phonics knowledge and word recognition begin in Foundation (Reception) and continue until the end of Year 4 in the English learning area. Developing strong phonics skills is essential for learning to read, write, and spell. Phonics refers to the relationship between letters or letter combinations (graphemes) and their corresponding sounds (phonemes).
About the Assessment The Phonics Screening Check consists of two sections:
- Section 1: Simple word structures using single-letter graphemes and some consonant and vowel digraphs (a combination of two letters representing one sound).
Section 2: More complex words, including two-syllable words, additional consonant digraphs, less consistent vowel/split digraphs, and trigraphs (three letters representing one sound).
Students are required to attempt all 40 words. This provides valuable information on their progress and helps us identify specific phonemes they may find challenging to decode when reading.
Supporting Student Progress This progress check enables us to provide targeted support:
- Tier 2: Small group support within the classroom
Tier 3: Intensive intervention in groups of one or two students
In the coming weeks, we will send letters to families whose children may benefit from Tier 3 intervention programs, ensuring they receive additional assistance to master phonemes that are still developing.
If you have any questions about the Phonics Screening Check or the targeted support offered, please do not hesitate to contact us.