Phonics screening check data collection: guide to submitting data
How local authorities should collect phonics screening check data from all local-authority-maintained schools, academies and free schools.
- From:
- Department for Education
- Published
- 25 March 2014
- Last updated
-
269AprilMay20242025 — See all updates
Applies to England
Phonics teaches people to read by relating sounds with letters and words. The phonics screening check is designed to check whether pupils understand phonics to an appropriate standard.
The phonics screening check data collection is an annual statutory data collection that takes place each June.
Local authorities must complete statutory data collections by law unless there is a very good reason not to.
You must submit phonics screening check assessment data for year 1 pupils in all:
- schools maintained by the local authority
- academies
- free schools
- special schools (schools for children with special educational needs or disabilities)
Important dates
Dates for the 20242025 data collection:
- collection opens:
109 June20242025 - deadline for submitting data:
1918 July20242025
Submit your data
You’ll need to:
- register and log in with DfE Sign-in
- use COLLECT to submit your data
Please contact your school or local authority approver, if:
- you want to request a DfE Sign-in username or password so you can access COLLECT
- ‘phonics screening check data’ is not on the list of collections you can see in COLLECT
Get help using DfE Sign-in
If you do not know who your approver is, use the DfE Sign-in request form.
If you’ve forgotten your password, use DfE Sign-in to reset it. You will need to click ‘start now’ and then the ‘I’ve forgotten my password’ link.
We’ll only be able to change the status of your data submission to ‘authorised’ once you’ve cleared all errors in the data in COLLECT.
2024Collection collection documents
The following guides will help you complete the return:
- Phonics screening check data
collectioncollection:2023: - Phonics screening data
collectioncollection:2024: - COLLECT guides for schools and local authorities
Get help submitting data
Use the service request form if you have any questions about your data. We aim to answer your question within 5 working days.
For general enquiries about administering the phonics screening check, contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or assessments@education.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
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Update history
2025-05-09 10:18
Updated important dates. The 2025 data collection opens on 9 June 2025 and the deadline for submitting data is 18 July 2025.
2024-04-26 13:58
Updated the important dates section to include the date the 2024 collection opens and the deadline for submitting data. Added a link to the 2024 phonics screening data collection technical specification.
2023-05-22 13:01
‘Phonics screening check data collection autumn 2023: guide’ has been added to the 2023 collection documents section.
2023-01-31 11:34
Updated the important dates section to include the date the 2023 collection opens and the deadline for submitting data. Added a link to the 2023 phonics screening data collection technical specification.
2022-04-06 17:27
Updated the important dates and added a link to the phonics screening check data collection 2022 guide.