QTS Phonics and Early Reading 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the DfE's Reading Framework (2023) state about the teaching of reading in primary schools?
- Phonics should be the first and primary approach to decoding (Correct answer)
- Phonics and whole-word recognition should be given equal weight
- Comprehension should precede phonics teaching
- Visual memory is the most reliable decoding strategy
Correct answer: Phonics should be the first and primary approach to decoding
The DfE Reading Framework 2023 reinforces that phonics must be the first and primary approach to teaching decoding, with SSP programmes fully implemented.
Question 2: Which aspect of the Simple View of Reading relates to phonics teaching?
- Word recognition (Correct answer)
- Language comprehension
- Vocabulary development
- Fluency
Correct answer: Word recognition
The Simple View of Reading divides reading into word recognition (decoding, including phonics) and language comprehension — phonics primarily supports the word recognition dimension.
Question 3: A Year 1 teacher notices a pupil consistently confuses 'b' and 'd'. What is the most effective SSP-based approach?
- Use mnemonics and multi-sensory activities to distinguish the graphemes (Correct answer)
- Ask the pupil to copy words containing b and d repeatedly
- Focus on comprehension to compensate
- Refer immediately to the SENCO
Correct answer: Use mnemonics and multi-sensory activities to distinguish the graphemes
Multi-sensory approaches and mnemonics (e.g., 'bed' as a visual shape) are evidence-based strategies to address b/d reversal, embedded within SSP practice.
Question 4: What is 'phonics screening check' retake policy for pupils who do not meet the standard in Year 1?
- They retake the check in Year 2 (Correct answer)
- They retake it in Year 1 the following term
- They are exempt from further checks
- They take an alternative assessment
Correct answer: They retake the check in Year 2
Pupils who do not meet the expected standard in the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check must retake it in Year 2 as part of national assessment requirements.
Question 5: Which organisation produces the validated list of systematic synthetic phonics programmes in England?
- The DfE (Department for Education) (Correct answer)
- Ofsted
- The National Literacy Trust
- UKLA
Correct answer: The DfE (Department for Education)
The DfE publishes and maintains a list of validated SSP programmes that meet its criteria for systematic phonics teaching, which schools are expected to use.
Question 6: What does 'blending' involve in phonics teaching?
- Merging individual phonemes together to pronounce a whole word (Correct answer)
- Breaking a word into syllables
- Identifying rhyming patterns
- Segmenting words for spelling
Correct answer: Merging individual phonemes together to pronounce a whole word
Blending is the process of merging individual phonemes in sequence to read a word — for example, /k/ /æ/ /t/ blended together produces 'cat'.
QTS Phonics and Early Reading 3
What does the DfE's Reading Framework (2023) state about the teaching of reading in primary schools?