Phonics checks – Assessment materials
This page provides all the resources needed to carry out and analyse the Ministry of Education phonics checks.
About this resource
This page contains all the resources needed to carry out and analyse the Ministry of Education phonics checks, including the administration script, the marking sheet, the student materials, scoring guidance, and the phonics continuum.
Phonics checks – Assessment materials
The phonics checks are carried out in a child’s first year of school, with a check at 20 weeks and again at 40 weeks after starting school. The phonics check is designed to assess which grapheme-phoneme correspondences children know and how they blend sounds together to read words.
To carry out the phonics checks you will need:
- Student materials
- Marking materials
- Script for administration.
After the phonics checks have been carried out you will need:
- Phonics continuum
- Instructions for uploading results.
You can find the student materials by scrolling down. Links to download all other materials can be accessed by expanding the headings beneath the student materials.
Student materials – Term 1 2025
You can download a printable version of the student materials by selecting the link below:
Alternatively, you can access the digital student materials as Google slides below.
When administering the check using the Google slides, the student can read directly from their own screen. To use the digital student materials you will need to:
- Select the three dots at the bottom of the slides and select "Enter full screen".
- When the student is ready, use the navigation arrows at the bottom of the screen to move to the next slide/word item. If your student is reading from a touch screen, such as a tablet or iPad, you can also swipe the screen to access the next slide/word item.
You can download the marking sheet, scoring guidance and instructions for recording results by selecting the links below:
The digital marking sheet is an Excel form that automatically generates a student report. We recommend using the digital marking sheet. It provides an instant summary of student results and it is also more efficient for managing student data.
Alternatively, you can access a printable marking sheet by selecting the link below:
Download the script for introducing the phonics checks to students by selecting the link below:
After carrying out the phonics checks, you can use the phonics continuum and the results of the checks to notice, recognise, and respond to children’s strengths and needs.
Download the phonics continuum by selecting the link below:
When schools upload their phonics checks data to the Ministry’s secure data portal (SDP), they will receive a report that includes a summary of progress and achievement, demographic analyses, and national achievement norms.
For instructions on uploading phonics checks results to the Ministry of Education's SDP select the link below:
Only designated School Users can upload phonics check results to the Ministry's SDP. The Ministry's SDP can be accessed by selecting the link below:
Learning module – Implementing the phonics check
A self-directed learning module on the phonics checks is available now.
Take the following steps to access the module:
- Access the education learning management system (Education LMS) by clicking on the tile below.
- Click on the 'Login with Education Sector Logon (ESL)' button
- Once you are logged in to the Education LMS, select ‘Catalogue’ menu option
- Search for 'Implementing the Phonics Check'. It will also be available in the 'New Releases' section on the Home Screen.
Phonics checks – Guidance for schools
You can find more information on the phonics checks on the Phonics checks – School guidance page. This can be accessed below.
Further support
You can get further support on the phonics checks by emailing [email protected].