Literacy news
Study shows pupils’ reading difficulties often go unnoticed
1 Aug 2011
Researchers from York University have warned that secondary school pupils may have reading difficulties that remain unidentified.
A study of 857 pupils in 28 schools in England found that around one in seven pupils had reading ages of two years or more below their actual age.
The study also found that 53 percent of children with significant reading problems were on the special educational needs (SEN) register.
Yet a 15-year-old pupil who had a reading age of just eight years and nine months was not on the register.
The researchers claimed that, as some children may be on the SEN register for difficulties other than reading problems, the findings could be an underestimate.
Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“Secondary schools take literacy very, very seriously. They are absolutely committed to addressing this, because without addressing the basics children can’t make progress.
“But whether they are put on the SEN register depends on what their literacy needs are.”
The government is in the process of amending the system after concerns that over-identification of SEN can have negative affects, since teachers can develop lower expectations of these children.
Read more at the Daily Telegraph.
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