Literacy

The latest news, analysis and best practice advice when it comes to literacy, from recent research and how to implement it to new guidance and what it means

Tuesday

5th Dec 2023

UK’s Pisa scores fall in maths, science and reading
The decline in performance should ‘concern us a lot’, says international education figure – but others urge caution when interpreting the results
Teenage girl walking down stairs

Wednesday

22nd Nov 2023

Jeremy Miles: ‘We will use every lever to support schools’
Challenging behaviour, worsening attendance and lower levels of literacy and numeracy must not be allowed to become ‘the new normal’, says Wales’ education minister
Jeremy Miles welsh classroom

Friday

10th Nov 2023

3 principles to engage pupils with poetry
Learning a poem by heart is not just a nice thing for pupils to do – it’s an approach underpinned by some key pedagogical principles, says Julie Blake
3 principles to engage pupils with poetry

Friday

27th Oct 2023

What’s next for KS2 Sats?
The fallout from this year’s tough Sats reading paper means reform is now inevitable. But what should primary assessments look like? Grainne Hallahan explores
KS2 Sats: Is it time to rethink primary assessments?

Friday

20th Oct 2023

3 in 4 Reception teachers find baseline test ‘unhelpful’
Only a tiny minority of teachers think the Reception Baseline Assessment provides accurate information, a poll finds
Nursery class

Wednesday

18th Oct 2023

Why primary maths needs to be more ‘phonics’
There is a lot that maths specialists can learn from primary English teaching, says Helen Drury – including lessons about what not to do
Maths phonics

Sunday

15th Oct 2023

Early years: Fix ‘grim’ workforce crisis first, Labour warned
Early years leaders and experts warn emergency funding and an immediate plan to fix the workforce shortage is needed if Labour is to achieve its aims for the sector
Early years settings in schools
Exclusive

Thursday

12th Oct 2023

Sats 2023: Slow progress in reading and writing after Covid
Attainment at KS1 has risen slightly year-on-year but still remains far below pre-pandemic levels, new DfE figures show
2023 key stage 1 sats
Phonics attainment up but still below pre-pandemic levels
The proportion of pupils achieving the expected standard in the KS1 phonics check has increased since last year but is still below levels achieved in 2019
Phonics data 2023

Friday

6th Oct 2023

Covid inquiry: ‘Mistake’ to keep schools shut
Former children’s tsar tells inquiry the government failed to ‘realistically prepare’ for Covid lockdowns and mitigate their long-term impact on pupils
Major mistake to keep schools closed in 2020
Fears catch-up progress will be lost as schools face costs struggle
Some schools are questioning the point of getting tutoring ‘up and running’ when funds are set to disappear next year
Struggle with costs stones and money

Thursday

5th Oct 2023

End P1 SNSAs, says primary leaders’ body
Primary headteachers say P1 literacy and numeracy standardised assessments are ‘time consuming and onerous’, and interfere with play-based approaches
End requirement to test P1s, says primary leaders’ body