Teaching children to read

Ruth Kelly has commissioned an independent review of primary school reading policies.

 

The education secretary announced on Friday that former senior schools inspector Jim Rose will examine best practice, including the widely hailed synthetic phonics method.

 

Ministers were accused earlier in the year of "sitting on" an academic report proving the success of the strategy.

 

The ex-Ofsted director of inspection will also look at how to meet the needs of children who have fallen behind the expected standard in reading as the government seeks to boost basic literacy across the country.

 

The Rose review will feed into a new national literacy framework which will guide teaching.

 

Government Response: Ruth Kelly, secretary of state department of education and skills

 

“Our literacy strategy combined with developments in the Foundation Stage has transformed the nature of teaching, learning and achievement in primary schools over the last seven years. Since 1997 around 96,000 more children have been helped to reach the expected reading level for their age. International evidence shows that standards are high and rising, with our children ranked as the third best readers in a recent international survey.

 

“There is a false notion that we have not been teaching synthetic phonics as part of the literacy strategy. We have. It is already at the heart of early literacy teaching for every child every day. The debate now centres not on whether to teach phonics, but how. Synthetic phonics, properly taught, can and does play an important part in teaching reading skills. Our strategy has continually evolved to ensure that it benefits from the latest developments in this area, and the time is now right to renew the literacy framework, accelerate and build on this success.

 

“This is why I want to draw on the advice of leading experts to ensure that we are making the best use of synthetic phonics combined with other teaching strategies. I welcome the appointment of Jim Rose to this critical task, he has a proven commitment to high standards and a deep experience of primary education. We can then deliver a renewed Literacy Framework informed by the most current evidence of what works best in the classroom.”

 

Opposition Response: The Conservatives

 

Conservatives have welcomed the Government’s announcement of an inquiry into the use of synthetic phonics in the teaching of reading in primary schools. Shadow Education Secretary

 

David Cameron said: “Raising reading standards is vital. If you can’t read, you can’t learn. We have been saying for some time that phonics should be at the heart of the National Literacy Strategy.

 

“We will do everything we can to help the Government achieve significantly higher standards in the teaching of reading. If this inquiry is backed by action we will support it.

 

“Based on the evidence, we believe synthetic phonics is a far more effective teaching method than the combination of methods currently advocated by the National Literacy Strategy.

 

“The biggest problem facing education today is the fact that one in five eleven year olds leave primary schools unable to read properly. That group never recovers and their secondary education is blighted as a consequence. If we as a country can get the teaching of reading right it will have a huge impact on education standards and more generally, on behaviour.”

 

Opposition Response: The Liberal Democrats

 

Commenting on Ruth Kelly's announcement of an independent review of the role of synthetic phonics in teaching reading, Liberal Democrat shadow education and skills secretary, Ed Davey MP, said: "It is good to see the Education Select Committee's recommendation of an independent review being acted upon.

 

"It is time for a genuine review of teaching methods, but this announcement would be more convincing if the Minister was less complacent about the current standards of reading in some of our schools.

 

"Not being a confident reader can disadvantage a person for life. Illiteracy is damaging for the individual, bad for business and unacceptable in 21st Century Britain."

 

Stakeholder Response: The NUT

 

 

Commenting on the appointment of Jim Rose, retired OFSTED director of inspection, to conduct a review of the teaching of reading, Steve Sinnott, NUT General Secretary, said: “The outbreak of another round of the reading wars before the election had the potential to damage the enormous progress made by primary schools in the teaching of literacy.

 

“The Commons Select Committee report on the teaching of reading ended up as a game of ping pong between the political parties because of the general election. It should have been the subject of mature reflection and debate.

 

“The Government’s decision to appoint someone of Jim Rose’s experience and expertise is very welcome. I would expect him not to be influenced by attempts to politicize the debate on reading but to concentrate on what works, to consult teachers and respect their professionalism.”

 

Stakeholder Response: PAT

 

 

PAT General Secretary Jean Gemmell said: "We welcome this review. Reading is the tool through which we acquire knowledge, and is vital for communication and the release of pupils' potential, so it is important to establish the most effective methods of teaching literacy.

 

"However, we hope that the review will not result in prescriptive regulations dictating how teachers must teach literacy. While being informed and guided by the results of this review, teachers should still be allowed to use their professional judgment about the most appropriate method or methods to use when teaching a particular class, especially where they are already experiencing success with a particular method or combination of methods."

 

 

Stakeholder response: ATL

 

 

ATL general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: "ATL welcomes the review of best practice in early reading and synthetic phonics, and we will welcome the opportunity to have an input.

 

"ATL believes that we cannot look at the teaching of reading in isolation, but that it must be in the context of increased opportunities for children’s talk, play and real life experiences of reading.

 

"Our research has shown that the emphasis on the mechanics of reading means that children do not learn to see themselves as readers.

 

"There is not one 'best' way to teach children to read. Instead, we must be constantly looking to add to the range of effective practices and matching those to the needs of the children. This is vital if we are to ensure that children gain both the ability to read and the desire to go on reading."

 

 

Stakeholder response: NASUWT

 

 

Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT, said: "NASUWT welcomes the appointment of Jim Rose to conduct an independent review. He has a good track record in education circles.

 

"NASUWT hopes that the outcome of the review will offer an informed and practical way forward for teachers rather than a prescriptive straight- jacket.

 

"The governmentss philosophy for many things in schools is that ‘one size does not fit all’ reading strategies are no exception.

"Teachers must be able to use their professional judgement on what is appropriate for the pupils they teach."