Answers to Questions

Phonics Checks

1506 Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (27 November 2019). How many year 1 students did not participate in the phonics screening check in 2018, and separately, 2019?

1. Are the reasons for students not participating recorded?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education): I have been advised of the following:

All year 1 students should participate in the phonics screening check. However, students can be exempted in certain circumstances or may be absent. Where a student does not participate in the phonics screening check these reasons are recorded.

In 2018 14,044 year 1 student records were entered for the phonics screening check. Of these records, 13,817 students actively participated in the check, while 227 did not participate.

In 2019 14,227 year 1 student records were entered for the phonics screening check. Of these records, 13,899 students actively participated in the check while 328 did not participate.

In 2018 a small number of schools did not record data for students exempted from participation in the phonics screening check. In 2019 the management of these students' data was clarified and these exemptions were correctly recorded. This explains the increase in students exempted from 2018 to 2019.