Statutory guidance

Phonics screening check administration guidance

Guidance for headteachers, teachers and school staff administering and scoring the phonics screening check in key stage 1.

• From: Standards and Testing Agency
• Published: 31 March 2016
• Last updated: 16 March 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 16 March 2026

     Guidance has been updated for the academic year 2025 to 2026.

  2. 1 May 2025

     In section 8.5 'Pupils who do not meet the expected standard', updated link to latest DfE guidance on supporting pupils in phonics.

  3. 17 March 2025

     Updated guidance for the academic year 2024 to 2025

  4. 18 March 2024

     Updated guidance for administering the phonics screening check in June 2024.

  5. 20 March 2023

     Updated for the 2023 test cycle.

  6. 21 March 2022

     Updated guidance for the academic year

  7. 19 July 2021

     Updated to remove cancellation of 2021 assessment information.

  8. 29 April 2019

     Updated for the 2019 test cycle.

  9. 25 June 2018

     2018 phonics screening check threshold mark added

  10. 23 April 2018

      Updated for the 2018 test cycle.

  11. 26 June 2017

      2017 threshold included

  12. 24 April 2017

      Updated for the 2017 test cycle.

  13. 27 June 2016

      2016 phonics screening check threshold mark added.

  14. 31 March 2016

      First published.

Documents

2026 phonics screening check: administration guidance

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Details

We will update this guidance in March 2027 for the academic year 2026 to 2027.

Use this information to:

• understand your statutory requirements relating to the phonics screening check
• plan for the check
• administer the check
• submit your school’s check results