Phonics screening check: Key Facts and Dates
Everything teachers need to know about the phonics screening check, with dates and links from GOV.UK.
- Year group
- Year 1
- Status
- Statutory
- 2026 to 2027
- Week starting Monday 14 June 2027 (14–18 June 2027)
- Last checked
- 2026-10-20
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Pupils read 40 words aloud (20 real, 20 pseudo-words). The threshold (pass) mark is published after the check each June – 31 out of 40 in 2026.
40 words (20 real words and 20 pseudo-words) read aloud to the check administrator.
Key dates
Week starting Monday 14 June 2027 (14–18 June 2027)
Good to know
- Items: 40
- Threshold 2027 published: Mon, 28 June 2027
Official documents
- Past and practice materials (GOV.UK)
- Assessment guidance (GOV.UK)
- GOV.UK: phonics screening check 2026 materials
Facts checked against: gov.uk, gov.uk · last checked 2026-10-20.
Year group packs
Year 1 English · Year 2 English
Other assessments: Reception baseline assessment (RBA) · Key stage 1 tests (optional) · Multiplication tables check (MTC) · Key stage 2 national curriculum tests (SATs) · Key stage 2 teacher assessment (English writing, science).
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Facts and dates are from the Standards and Testing Agency and DfE pages on GOV.UK, summarised in our own words; no test papers or questions are reproduced. Checked on 2026-10-20: always check the current STA guidance.
Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education or the Standards and Testing Agency.