Policy

Literacy has been a political priority for a number of years. Both the Labour and coalition governments have focused on improving the teaching of literacy within formal education settings. This approach had some profound results but since 2005 progress has plateaued, with a significant number of children failing to meet expected standards year-on-year. 

The National Literacy Trust has responded to this with a model that makes literacy a local priority and which involves a wide range of partners. This approach builds on research, evidence and good practice in local areas. Crucially, it links literacy to local and national priorities such as child poverty, employment, regeneration, community capacity and resilience.

Related priorities include: 

• Think Family: The crucial role of parents and carers.
• Intervention in the early years and the need to “narrow the gap” in life chances for vulnerable children and families
• The need to target services and resources to the most disadvantaged.
• Improving the capacity of local people to support themselves.

Delivering improved outcomes

Through working in partnership with communities and local areas, we focus on targeting literacy support to families with young children and to families living in disadvantaged circumstances. This builds on research evidence and Coalition Government priorities.

Our approach supports local authorities to improve Early Years Foundation Stage results, and results associated with the reading test at age six and at the end of each key stage. In particular, the it helps to narrow the gap in results and life chances between vulnerable children and their peers, as highlighted by Frank Field in his review for the government.

It also reflects the focus on early intervention and the need to improve skills and build capacity to support the Big Society agenda. A focus on family literacy provides a chance to engage parents in improving their own skills, a vital step in accessing employment and training.

Low literacy skills are associated with a range of indicators of disadvantage. Improving literacy can help break cycles of deprivation and improve social mobility. Working with the National Literacy Trust has the potential to deliver national policy priorities as well as a range of local priorities. 

For further policy analysis please go to the National Literacy Trust policy pages