Initial Sounds - s, a, t, p, i, n Writing Practise
£1.39
Year 1 phonics, 2026
Get your child ready for the phonics screening check 2026
The Year 1 phonics screening check runs in mid June 2026. Children read 40 words to a teacher, half real and half made-up. Our phonics packs cover every grapheme the check tests, with real-word and alien-word practice on the same page.
Got phonics screening coming up, or a retake?
Whether your child sits the Year 1 check or a Year 2 retake, drop your email in. We send a one-time 15% code straight to your inbox. Use it on any English worksheet on the site until 21 June 2026.
Worksheets to start with
Phonics - ie, y, igh, i-e Words
£1.39
Phonics - ow Words
£1.29
Phonics - ay, ai, a-e Words
£1.39
Phonics - ow, oa, o-e Words
£1.39
Using Speech Bubbles and Speech Marks (2)
£1.49
Non - Chronological Report - Volcanoes
£1.49
Phonics - Short ‘oo’
£1.39
What is the phonics screening check?
The phonics screening check is a short, statutory assessment all Year 1 children in England sit. A teacher asks the child to read 40 words out loud, half real and half made-up alien words. The check looks at how well a child can decode using the phonics they have been taught at school. Year 2 children who did not meet the standard in Year 1 sit the same check again in June of Year 2.
When does the phonics screening check happen in 2026?
The 2026 check takes place in the second full week of June. Each child sits the check one-to-one with their teacher, and the whole assessment usually takes about five to ten minutes. Year 2 retakes happen in the same June window.
How can I prepare my Year 1 or Year 2 child at home?
Short, regular practice beats long sessions. Five to ten minutes a day with phonics worksheets that mix real words and alien words works well. For Year 2 children sitting a retake, focus on the graphemes that gave trouble the first time, plus alien-word practice to build decoding confidence. Our packs cover every grapheme the check tests.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the phonics screening check?
Children meet the expected standard when they read 32 or more of the 40 words correctly. The Department for Education sets the threshold each year and it has been 32 since 2012.
What are alien words?
Alien words are made-up words that follow real phonics rules, like "blon" or "splog". They check that a child is actually decoding, rather than recognising a word they have memorised.
When does the phonics screening check happen?
The check runs in the second full week of June for every Year 1 child in England. Year 2 retakes happen in the same week.
What happens if my child does not pass in Year 1?
Children who do not meet the standard in Year 1 sit the check again in June of Year 2. Schools usually offer extra phonics support in the intervening year.
How do I prepare my child for the Year 2 retake?
Identify which graphemes were weak the first time and drill those plus a small handful of alien words each day. Five to ten minutes is plenty. Our phonics packs cover every grapheme the check tests, so you can pick the ones that match your child.
How long does the check take?
Each child sits the check one-to-one with their teacher. It typically takes between five and ten minutes per child.