We have today received this message from THRASS regarding an English Phonics Test that they ahve developed for "for children from the age of four upwards (but it can also be used with adults, including student teachers and parents - and staff needing to improve their knowledge and confidence in order to deliver high quality phonics lessons)." I have copy and pasted it below but have removed the prices and commercial stuff in case the tes would delete it. What do people think of the idea? It seems more sensible than what the Dfe are planning for the nonword testing of our six year olds?! For Head Teachers, Literacy Coordinators and SENCOs in Primary and Secondary Schools… <a name="OLE_LINK1">[/URL]<a name="OLE_LINK2">[/URL]ENGLISH PHONICS TEST SOFTWARE - THE LOW-COST SIMPLE SOLUTION FOR ASSESSING PHONICS SKILLS IN SCHOOLS Many children have difficulty reading and spelling in English because they do not have a good understanding of the 44 sounds and 120 key spelling choices (the building blocks of words). This applies to first language speakers and also to those learning English as an additional language. · As a consequence, they do not benefit intellectually and socially as much as they should from formal education. Most governments and teachers believe that the literacy process starts with children turning over the pages of picture books, usually with the help of a parent or grandparent, to ‘read’ favourite stories again and again. They also believe that, if children are to learn from the words they read and spell and are to develop a love of reading and writing, a good understanding of sounds and spelling choices (phonics) is vital. Given the importance that is attached to phonics, it is useful (if not essential) to have documentary evidence that children of a set age have a good understanding of the 44 sounds and 120 key spelling choices (the building blocks). In particular, this evidence is critical for those children who are struggling with reading and/or spelling and are not making good progress. The English Phonics Test software provides a low-cost simple solution for both teaching and assessing individuals, classes, year groups and, if desirable, even whole schools. It is suitable for children from the age of four upwards (but it can also be used with adults, including student teachers and parents - and staff needing to improve their knowledge and confidence in order to deliver high quality phonics lessons). It uses 120 keywords (each with a memorable picture) to progressively introduce, revise and test knowledge of the sounds and key spelling choices. The software has seven modules. These include: · The smaller English Keywords 120 app, to practise the sounds and spelling choices, is also available for phones and tablets from these two download sites (approx. £. SOUND IT OUT SOFTWARE - THE ENGLISH PHONICS TEST WITH ADDED FUNCTIONS AND MORE WORD LISTS - FOR HOME/SCHOOL COMPUTERS AND SCHOOL SERVERS A fuller version of the English Phonics Test software for home/school stand alone computers and school servers is available as the SOUND IT OUT software. This software (product code S-20 for PC, S-22 for Mac and S-30 for PC Servers) is very much the same except with regards to the Word Bank. There are several more functions for extension activities and games, including a large number of word lists and a save option for new words. Completing ‘Level 4: Whole Chart’ is equivalent to the English Phonics Test.