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Statutory guidance

Phonics screening check: assessment and reporting arrangements (ARA)

Statutory guidance for assessing and reporting the phonics screening check at key stage 1 (KS1).

Updates to this page

From:
Standards and Testing Agency
Published:
1 October 2024
Last updated:
12 October 2026
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  1. Guidance updated for the academic year 2026 to 2027.

  2. Updated date in the 'Important dates' section, for clarification: Local authorities carry out monitoring visits to a sample of schools Monday 1 June to Friday 26 June (previously shown as Monday 1 June to Friday 16 June). For full details, please refer to section 5.9, which explains that local authorities will carry out monitoring visits to a sample of schools between Monday 1 June and Friday 19 June but that, in some circumstances, a local authority may be able to conduct a monitoring visit after 19 June, up until Friday 26 June.

  3. Updated for the academic year 2025 to 2026.

  4. First published.

Documents

2027 phonics screening check assessment and reporting arrangements

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Details

Following the publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report and the associated government response in November 2025, future assessment arrangements are under review in line with the relevant recommendations. Assessment arrangements for the academic year 2026 to 2027 will remain unchanged.

This guidance is for:

  • all staff responsible for the phonics screening check
  • headteachers and senior leadership teams
  • governors and trustees
  • local authority assessment co-ordinators

It applies to:

  • maintained schools
  • academies, including free schools
  • special schools, including maintained special schools and special academies
  • alternative provision (AP), including pupil referral units (PRUs), AP academies and AP free schools
  • secure units
  • maintained nursery schools with pupils who will reach the age of 6 before the end of the school year
  • Defence Children Services (DCS) schools and settings

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