The Year 1 Phonics Check: a calm, clear guide
What the check is, why it matters, and how to help your child prepare — without stress, and without 'teaching to the test'.
Shop phonics packsWhat is the Year 1 Phonics Check?
The Year 1 Phonics Check is a short, gentle, one-on-one assessment. A child reads a list of 40 words aloud to their teacher — 20 real words and 20 'nonsense' words. It usually takes just a few minutes, feels like a normal reading activity to the child, and there's no pass-or-fail label attached to it.
Its purpose is simple: to check whether a child can decode — turn letters into sounds and blend them into words — using the phonics they've been taught.
Why the nonsense words?
The nonsense words (sometimes shown beside a little alien) are the clever part. A word like vap or splim can't be recognised from memory, because it isn't a real word. The only way to read it is to sound it out. So the nonsense words reveal whether a child is genuinely decoding, or leaning on memorised whole words and guesswork.
How to help your child prepare
Here's the reassuring bit: the best preparation is simply good, systematic phonics. You don't need to drill past papers. You need your child to be confident turning graphemes into sounds and blending them — on real words and unfamiliar ones alike.
- Practise sounding out unfamiliar and nonsense words — make a game of reading 'alien words'.
- Keep sessions short, daily and positive — five minutes beats an hour once a week.
- Work through the code in order, securing each step before the next.
- Review earlier sounds regularly so they don't fade.
Our flashcard packs are built for exactly this. The Foundations and Digraphs & Blends sets cover the code most Year 1 children are working through, and because every card shows the number of sounds, they're ideal for the sound-by-sound blending the check rewards.
Phonics packs to build decoding confidence
Systematic, science-of-reading aligned, printed and posted from Australia.
Shop the collection Start with FoundationsPhonics Check questions, answered
What is the Year 1 Phonics Check?
It's a short, individual assessment where a child reads 40 words aloud to their teacher — 20 real words and 20 'nonsense' words (like 'væp'). The nonsense words check that a child is genuinely decoding using phonics, rather than recognising familiar words from memory.
Why are there nonsense words?
Nonsense words can only be read by sounding them out, so they reveal whether a child has secure phonics knowledge. A child who has memorised words but can't decode will be caught out by them — which is exactly the point.
How can I help my child prepare?
The best preparation isn't 'teaching to the test' — it's making sure your child can decode confidently. Systematic phonics practice, including reading unfamiliar and nonsense words, builds exactly the skill the check measures.
Is the check the same in every state?
Victoria introduced a Year 1 Phonics Screening Check based on the model used in England and South Australia. The format is very similar across jurisdictions that use it. Check your own state's education department for the current details, as policies change.
My child didn't do well — what now?
It simply flags that some phonics knowledge needs shoring up. Find the gap, go back to the last secure step, and rebuild systematically. A short daily practice with the right cards makes a real difference.
This guide is general information for Australian families and educators. The exact format and timing of phonics screening can vary by state and change over time — check your state or territory education department for current details.