School Compass
How to read KS1 phonics context
School-level phonics scores are not published. Use LA benchmarks, location, and inspection excerpts when choosing infant schools.
How to read Year 1 / phonics context
School-level phonics scores are not published here. Area benchmarks give background for infant and primary choice — not a league table of schools.
What this path can tell you
- Local-authority phonics context for the area around your shortlist.
- Which infant / primary settings are nearby to visit.
- Inspection précis where a recent report exists.
What this is not telling you
- How any one school’s Year 1 cohort performed in phonics.
- Classroom teaching quality or reading culture day to day.
- A guaranteed place — catchment overlays and offer-day demand figures are context, not admission chances, faith criteria, or waiting-list practice.
- Day-to-day ethos, behaviour climate, or SEND support beyond short excerpts.
- A ranked “best school” — tables and reports are one lens, not a verdict.
Fair conclusions you can draw
- Which schools belong on a visit list given location and phase.
- What to ask about early reading when you visit.
How to use this for decisions
- Shortlist a few settings that look plausible on paper and on the map.
- Treat gaps and older inspections as prompts to ask, not automatic rejects.
- Visit (or watch a normal session), talk to staff, and weigh fit for your child.
- Keep notes on what you saw — printed packs are for that, not for league ranks.
Reading the inspection précis
- Excerpts are verbatim from the latest usable Ofsted or ISI report PDF.
- Positives and improvements are what inspectors wrote — not our summary of quality.
- A short précis cannot replace reading the full report in context.
- Academy conversion letters and admin PDFs are skipped when a real inspection exists.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers parents ask before they shortlist.
Why can't I see phonics scores for each school?
The DfE publishes phonics at local-authority level, not for individual schools. School Compass shows LA benchmarks and inspection excerpts instead of inventing school-level numbers.
How do I compare infant schools without phonics tables?
Shortlist on location, Ofsted/ISI excerpts, and what you learn on visits. Ask how reading is taught and how progress is checked — tables alone will not answer that.