Teaching and Learning Update

Year 1 Phonics Check

Over the next few weeks all Year 1 students across Victoria will be participating in a phonics screening check. This is a simple, one-on-one assessment that helps teachers understand how your child is progressing in learning to read.

The Year 1 Phonics Check is a short, fun and supportive assessment of your child’s phonics knowledge. Phonics is a key part of learning to read – it’s about recognising the sounds letters and groups of letters make, and blending them together to read words.

The check is made up of 40 words: some are real words (like cat or ship), and some are nonsense or 'alien' words (like teb or florp). These made-up words are included to see how well your child can apply their phonics skills to unfamiliar words.

The nonsense words help teachers see whether children are using their phonics skills, rather than relying on memory or guessing. If your child can read a made-up word correctly, it shows they understand how to sound out and blend letters — which is an important step in becoming a confident reader.

The results will help the teachers understand how your child is going with their phonics and whether they might need a little extra support. 

Reading regularly at home is one of the best ways to support your child’s progress. You can help by:

• Practising letter sounds together

• Playing simple word games (like rhyming or 'I spy' with letter sounds)

• Reading aloud together every day

If you have any questions about the Phonics Check or your child’s reading development, please don’t hesitate to speak with one of your child's teachers.

Tawny Harkness

Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning