The controversial check will be introduced in schools next month and will be taken by all children at the end of Year 1.
Ministers believe that systematic synthetic phonics is the method proven to improve reading standards for all children, including the weakest readers.
But critics of the test, which involves children reading aloud a mixture of real and made-up words, say that it does not give a true picture of children’s reading ability or comprehension.
Just 32 per cent of the Year 1 pupils in 300 schools who took a trial run of the test last summer passed it.
Speaking at the National Association of Head Teachers conference in Harrogate at the weekend, the union's general secretary Russell Hobby said that if the phonics screening check was not used as a proper assessment the union would join forces with other teaching unions such as the National Union of Teachers to stop the test.
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