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Victorian Year 1 Phonics Check

Guide for parents and carers about the Year 1 Phonics Check.

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What is phonics?

Phonics is a way of teaching students to read and spell words. It teaches students to connect sounds with letters or groups of letters.

Why is phonics important?

Phonics is an important part of learning to read and write in English. Children need to learn the sounds that letters and letter groups make and how to blend them to read words. Children then use this knowledge to ‘decode’ new words that they come across. Phonics helps children read and write in Standard Australian English. It supports those who speak another language, use a dialect, or have diverse learning needs. For more information, see Phonics: a guide for parents and carers.

What is the Year 1 Phonics Check?

The Year 1 Phonics Check (the Check) is a short assessment. It shows teachers how your child is learning phonics. It helps teachers understand your child’s phonics skills and plan what to teach next. The Check assesses how your child reads English words with different letter combinations. The teacher will ask your child to read 40 words aloud. 20 of these words will be real words and 20 will be made-up words. They show teachers how well children are using their knowledge of phonics to read words. If the Check shows your child is below the expected level, teachers decide the best ways to help them learn.

The Check is completed by all Year 1 students (other than those unable to complete the assessment), during Weeks 4 to 6 of Term 3. Generally, the Check takes 5 to 7 minutes and is designed to be straightforward and not stressful.

Your child’s teacher will share results from the Check with you and discuss your child’s progress as part of regular reporting processes, such as parent-teacher meetings.

Help and support

Please contact your child’s school if you have any questions regarding the Year 1 Phonics Check.

For general departmental enquiries, contact us via:

Updated 27 March 2026

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