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Press Release

NUT comment on Year 1 phonics acreening checks

22 November 2010

Commenting on Nick Gibb MP, the minister of state for schools announcement to introduce a phonics screening check for children in Year 1 Christine Blower general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union said:

"It seems to have escaped the government's attention that teachers are assessing pupils all the time, that’s what they do, and there is already plenty of information from which teachers can work.

"We will now have a form of assessment at 5, 6 and 7 before the primary assessment review has even started to look at the evidence.

"It is this government's obsession with synthetic phonics that appears to be driving this latest announcement not a real need for assessment. While it can be helpful to have assessment to see who needs assistance, if children who don't do well in the tests just getting more of the same type of phonics teaching will not be of use to them.

"Teachers and parents are more interested in the support available to children who are finding it difficult to learn how to read – the costs of introducing yet another test would be far better spent on investment in helping this group of children".



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National Union of Teachers

National Union of Teachers

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