A special school in Devon is calling on the government to make phonics tests inclusive for children who have speech and language needs when learning to read.

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

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

The Department for Education (DoE) said it is to review its curriculum and assessments and will report back next year.

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

Students are taught to identify and repeat letter sounds. Then, those sounds combine to form words that they read aloud.

But teachers at the school said it was difficult for those with a language delay or who do not speak at all.

Samantha Hill, assistant head of school, said the Key Stage One phonics screening check was not accessible to non-verbal pupils.

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

“They are very able to write … but if you look at the Key Stage One curriculum, if they can’t repeat a sentence orally, they can’t reach that stage.

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

Lucas, a six-year-old at the school, is non-verbal so he can’t sound out the letters in his phonics screening test.

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

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

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

They allowed him to point to the letter that matched what a teacher read from a flashcard.

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

Ceri Brinkworth, head of training at Ruth Miskin Training, said: “Since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of children starting school who are not speaking.

“About a quarter of children with autism are non-verbal. That shows us how important this issue is.

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

Lucas’ father Steven said: ‘Just because Lucas is non-verbal doesn’t mean he can’t read, write or write, which he can. His results clearly show this.

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

The school has launched a petition asking the DoE to change the way it assesses phonics for non-verbal children at Key Stage One.

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

“We’re looking at whether the current rating system can be improved … while protecting the important role of ratings.”