Literacy news
£10 million literacy catch-up programme for disadvantaged pupils
10 Jul 2012
The announcement comes as a response to last year's Key Stage 2 results that showed around 100,000 pupils in England failed to reach the expected standard in English. This figure indicates that around one in six pupils (16 per cent) fail to master the basics of reading; and around one in four pupils (25 per cent) fail to master the basics of writing by the time they reach the end of their primary school period.
The projects will be set up across England in order to help disadvantaged pupils. There will be a fast-tracked scheme for some of the projects through the bidding process commencing from this September, while others will start in 2013.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:
Reading with confidence is the basis of a good education and to unlocking everything the school curriculum has to offer. Every child should start secondary school with a head start – not a false start.
I'm determined that the Government does everything it can, through the Pupil Premium, to bring children up to speed in literacy as they make the transition from primary to secondary school. This money will be a huge boost to schools in giving extra support the children who need it.
The programme will be run by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) who will run a competitive bidding process to support innovative projects that build on robust evidence or a strong practical theory. They expect schools, along with charities, local authorities and universities to bid for the programme. Projects could start at the end of Year 6, in the summer between Year 6 and Year 7, and in Year 7 itself.
Read the full story on Department For Education
