2026 Phonics Screening Check

The following information relates to the '2026 Phonics Screening Check', which was administered in state-funded primary schools in England in June 2026.

Phonics Screening Check 2026

Pupils were assessed in year 1 using the '2026 Phonics Screening Check' paper (available below). This screening check assessed how well a child can use their understanding of phonics to decode real words and nonsense (pseudo) words.

Find out about the Phonics Screening Check and how you can prepare your child

The pass mark for the 2026 Phonics Screening Check was set at 32 out of 40. This means children needed to correctly read at least 32 of the 40 words aloud during the assessment.

Where can you download the 2026 Phonics Screening check?

Past papers are an excellent way to familiarise both you and your child with the types of words used in the Phonics Screening Check. They show the mix of real and nonsense words that appeared in the 2026 assessment.

2026 Year 1 Phonics Screening Check Pupils Materials

A copy of the Year 1 'Screening Check 2026' can be downloaded free of charge by clicking here.

The official Phonics Screening Check materials are © Department for Education and reproduced under the terms of the Open Government Licence. They are provided for home use and private study only.

2026 Year 1 Phonics Screening Check Practice Sheet

A copy of the Year 1 'Practice Sheet 2026' can be downloaded free of charge by clicking here.

The Phonics screening check official paper is © Department for Education and reproduced under the terms of the Open Government Licence. They are for home use / private study only.