The BDA with Usha Goswami is campaigning to get the DfE to dilute and undermine the teaching advocated in systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programmes and in the DfE policy paper, the Reading Framework (July 2021). “We are launching a petition
Dyslexia: Prevention and Intervention
An Educational Psychologist colleague has just shared what she puts in her reports when asked for diagnoses of dyslexia: “While there is not a finite/discrete diagnosable condition of dyslexia, the following descriptors are outlined by the BPS (British Psychological Society)
Has the Phonics Screening Check fulfilled its promise?
Teaching children to read and write successfully is undoubtedly the most important part of their education. Failure to do so brings appalling problems for these children and society. Over the years educationalists tended to ignore the evidence presented by research
Reading and Middle Class Strugglers by Dr Marlynne Grant
I think our current emphasis on social mobility and the efficacy of systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) for disadvantaged children is right, but let’s not forget the situation I remember in the late 80s and early 90s when I was seeing
An Alternative to Book Bands for Beginner Readers
For years, book bands have provided an easy reference point to help teachers choose reading books for children. While classifying books from pink to lime and beyond may appear useful, the grading is based simply on factors such as the
Tackling Inequality Through Teaching: A Letter to the Prime Minister by Dr Marlynne Grant
The Rt Hon Theresa May MP Prime Minister 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA Dear Prime Minister Tackling Inequality Through Teaching While the debate about grammar schools hits the headlines, I would urge the government not to take its eye
The Optima Reading Programme by Dr Jonathan Solity: Does it Provide Optimal Results? A Paper by Dr Marlynne Grant
Recently Dr Jonathan Solity reported on his critical analysis of the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check.1 This has thrown a spotlight on his own programme for teaching reading, which was developed first as ERR (Early Reading Research), later known as