Here is an article about the new tests being introduced:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14930193
We are generally in favour of this direction because it is essential that children develop a decoding and blending ability. However, the difficulty still comes when they start to grapple with the great complexity of English spelling. That is when children often begin to rely on sight-memorisation and guessing, despite good phonics teaching at school.
Many of the children we help would have been able to pass the test suggested at the age of 6.
– David