The 2027 phonics screening check takes place in the week of Monday 14 June to Friday 18 June 2027. Children who are absent can take it the following week, 21 to 25 June. The threshold mark is published on Monday 28 June 2027, and schools report each child's result to parents by the end of the summer term.
That's about 34 weeks from mid-October 2026.
Key dates for 2027
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Check week | Mon 14 – Fri 18 June 2027 |
| Catch-up week for absent pupils | Mon 21 – Fri 25 June 2027 |
| Threshold mark published | Mon 28 June 2027 |
| Results to parents | By the end of the summer term 2027 |
Source: Standards and Testing Agency, 2027 phonics screening check assessment and reporting arrangements.
Who takes it
Children in Year 1 in the 2026/27 school year, plus Year 2 children who didn't meet the standard in the 2026 check or haven't taken it before. See the Year 2 retake.
A calm, month-by-month plan
| When | Focus |
|---|---|
| Autumn term (now to December) | Single sounds and the common teams: sh, ch, th, ng, ck, qu. Do one section of an early paper, like 2013, to see the starting point. |
| January to February | Vowel teams: ai, ee, oa, oo, ar, or, ur, ow, oi, er, air. Read ten alien words a night. |
| March to April | Split vowels (a-e, i-e, o-e, u-e) and the rarer teams: ew, ue, ie, au, aw, ph, wh. Try a full paper, one section per day. |
| May | Three-letter blends (str, scr, spl) and two-syllable words. One fresh paper a week; no drilling of the same paper. |
| June | Light and confident. Short, happy sessions. The week before, stop testing and just read books together. |
What to skip
Don't memorise word lists: the 2027 words will be new. Don't turn alien words into flashcard drills either; the point is that your child can read any word, not these words. And don't mention the pass mark to a five- or six-year-old. In the check it's just a teacher, a booklet and some silly alien names.
Questions parents ask
When is the phonics screening check 2027?
Check week is Monday 14 June to Friday 18 June 2027. Pupils who are absent can take it from 21 to 25 June.
When is the 2027 phonics check pass mark announced?
On Monday 28 June 2027, after check week.
When will I get my child's 2027 phonics check result?
Schools must report the result to parents by the end of the summer term 2027.
How should I prepare my child for the 2027 phonics check?
Ten minutes most days on the sounds they don't know yet, plus the occasional past paper section to spot gaps. Avoid memorising words: the 2027 words will be new.