A special school in Devon is calling on the government to make phonics testing inclusive for children who have speech and language needs as they learn to read.

Orchard Manor School, in Dawlish, said a phonics check required non-verbal children to say the letter sounds out loud – which was not possible.

The school has adapted the tests, but the results are not recognized, she says.

The Department of Education (DoE) said it needed to review its curriculum and assessments and would report back next year.

Phonics is the technique used in schools to teach children to read.

Students learn to identify and repeat letter sounds. These sounds then combine to form words that they read aloud.

But teachers at the school said it was difficult for those who had a language delay or who didn’t speak at all.

Samantha Hill, deputy headteacher at the school, said the Key Stage One phonics check was not accessible to non-verbal students.

“We have kids in our school who don’t speak,” she said.

“They are very capable of writing… but if you look at the Key Stage One program, if they can’t repeat a sentence orally, they can’t reach that milestone.

“They communicate in other ways, using pictures, sign language and assisted technology.”

Lucas, a six-year-old student at the school, is non-verbal and therefore cannot make the letter sound during his phonics screening test.

His parents said they were upset that the test was not available to him.

His mother, Lisa, said: “Due to government guidelines… his grade was not recognized because he did not participate orally in the test, which we believe is extremely unfair.”

Working with a consultant from the Read Write Inc phonics program, teachers found a different way to assess Lucas’s ability to read.

They allowed him to show the letter that matched what a teacher had read on a card.

He identified 37 out of 40, a score above the phonics screening passing score, his parents said.

Ceri Brinkworth, training manager at Ruth Miskin Training, said: “Since the pandemic there has been an increase in the number of children starting school without speaking.

“Around a quarter of autistic children don’t speak. This shows us how important this issue is.

“We need to be able to fairly assess all children.”

Lucas’ father Steven said: “Just because Lucas isn’t verbal doesn’t mean he can’t read, write or spell, which he can. His results clearly show that.

“We think things need to change and the government needs to recognize that.”

The school has launched a petition calling on the DoE to change the way it assesses the phonics of non-verbal children within Key Stage One.

The DoE said: “The phonics screening check ensures that children have learned phonic decoding to an age-appropriate standard and identifies pupils who need additional support.

“We are examining whether the current assessment system can be improved… while preserving the important role of assessments.”