Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check and how to use Phonics Screening Check Practice (by Kindling).
What’s the Phonics Screening Check?
It’s a short check near the end of Year 1 in England. Children read 40 words aloud to a teacher, one-to-one. Some are real words and some are made-up (pseudo) words. It’s used to check how securely children can use phonics to decode words.
Official info for parents (GOV.UK)
Why are there “alien words”?
The made-up words (sometimes called pseudo-words) check decoding. They show whether a child can sound out an unfamiliar word, rather than recognising a word from memory.
In the real check, pseudo-words are shown with a small imaginary creature so children know it’s meant to be a made-up word.
See examples (official materials on GOV.UK)
When should we use this app?
For most children, it’s most useful in the summer term of Year 1, when the check is closer and they’ve covered more sounds.
If you’re not sure what your child has been taught, ask their teacher. Schools don’t all teach phonics in the same order.
(If you want the official date window each year, GOV.UK lists future assessment dates here.)
Which mode should we pick?
Practice: Real Words Good for general reading practice and blending.
Practice: Alien Words Good for getting used to decoding unfamiliar (pseudo) words.
Phonics Check (40 words) Good once they’re reasonably confident and want to try the full format (40 words, like the real check).
A simple way to use it is: real words first, then alien words, then the full check occasionally.
What settings work best?
Phase filter
If you know the phase your child is working on, choose that. If you don’t, start lower and move up. If they’re getting lots wrong, it may be sounds they haven’t been taught yet.
As a rough guide, many children cover Phase 2–3 in Reception and Phase 4–5 in Year 1, but this varies by school. Their teacher can tell you what they’re on.
Number of words
- 10 is a good quick practice
- 20 if they want more
- Longer sets only if it’s still going well
What if they keep getting words wrong?
First check whether the words are actually at the right level for them, and whether they’ve been taught those sounds yet.
If not, drop the phase, reduce the number of words, or leave it for now. If you’re unsure, their teacher will be able to tell you what’s appropriate and what to practise next.
If it’s getting frustrating, stop and come back another time.
Should we focus on scores?
This check has an “expected standard”, but it’s meant to help schools spot who might need extra support — not to label children.
People often mention 32 out of 40. For example, the 2025 threshold mark is listed as 32 in the official materials.
Thresholds can change by year, so it’s better to treat it as a guideline rather than a target to chase.
If you use scores at home, the most useful thing is watching for steady progress over time, not hitting a specific number on a specific day.
What about screen time?
This app is best as a short, focused session. It shouldn’t replace reading together, stories, or play.
We also take a cautious approach to screens for young children. The World Health Organization advises no sedentary screen time at age 1, and for ages 2–4 no more than 1 hour a day (less is better).
If it starts feeling like a test, close it and do something else.
Is this app official?
No. Phonics Screening Check Practice is an independent practice app made by Kindling and isn’t affiliated with the Department for Education.
For official resources, head to GOV.UK:
Why is the web version free?
We want it to be easy to access.
We’re also working on paid mobile versions with some extra features. If we do that, we’ll keep them affordable.
Do you have any other practice tools?
If you’ve also got a child in Year 4, the statutory check is the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC).