Phonics Developments in England from 1998 to 2018 The first UK government attempt to give phonics a higher profile in England was in the National Literacy Strategy (NLS), introduced in 1998. Whole-word and whole-language approaches had dominated before that, and
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
Let’s get all children reading for pleasure and for meaning! by Elizabeth Nonweiler
Let’s get all children reading for pleasure and for meaning! Everyone interested in literacy wants children to enjoy reading, including teachers, parents, children’s authors and campaigning groups like the National Literacy Trust and the Reading Reform Foundation. At the same
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