The Conservatives have set out plans which they say will ensure children can read by the age of six.
The Conservatives have set out plans which they say will ensure children can read by the age of six.
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove said the Key Stage 1 exam in English for six and seven-year-olds should be replaced with a standard reading test.
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove said English assessments for six and seven-year-olds should be replaced with a standard reading test.
Other measures are also due to be outlined in an attempt to narrow the attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged children in England.
But primary school head teachers have warned against formal tests for young children saying exams could put them off reading "for a very long time".
Schools Secretary Ed Balls said the plans were "hastily cobbled together".
Schools Secretary Ed Balls said the plans were "hastily cobbled together".
Chris Davis, of the National Primary Headteachers' Association (NPHA), said the tests would come "too early".
"One of the worst things you can do with a very young child is give them the impression that they can't do something," he added.
Phonics
Phonics
He said the opposition was either calling for measures the government are already pursuing or was looking to turn back the clock.
Other measures are also due to be outlined by the Conservatives in an attempt to narrow the attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged children in England.
A key factor in the Tory plans involves extending the use of "synthetic phonics", which focuses on teaching the sounds which make up words.
A key factor in the Tory plans involves extending the use of "synthetic phonics", which focuses on teaching the sounds which make up words.
It is only once children have learnt to read that they can then go on to read to learn Michael Gove
It is only once children have learnt to read that they can then go on to read to learn Michael Gove
Mr Gove said the party wants to scrap tests for younger children and replace them with a reading assessment.
Mr Gove told BBC's Andrew Marr programme: "We think by the time a child has been through two years of primary school, reception year and year one, they should be able to decode effortlessly, they should have mastered the building blocks of reading.
He said the move would help give teachers more control over their classrooms, adding there was an "epidemic" of reading failure in the country.
He told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme: "We think by the time a child has been through two years of primary school, reception year and year one, they should be able to decode effortlessly, they should have mastered the building blocks of reading.
"Unless they learn to read properly they won't be able to read to learn subsequently, and this is the key foundation stone on which the rest of learning is built.
"Unless they learn to read properly they won't be able to read to learn subsequently, and this is the key foundation stone on which the rest of learning is built.
"We want to introduce a simple test which means at the end of two years of primary school we know whether or not children have mastered the skills they need to read.
"We want to introduce a simple test which means at the end of two years of primary school we know whether or not children have mastered the skills they need to read.
"Once children have got that skill, then teachers are free to inspire them, and children are free to read and explore on their own."
"Once children have got that skill, then teachers are free to inspire them, and children are free to read and explore on their own."
Mr Gove added that, currently, 20% of children leaving primary school are incapable of reading, rising to 40% of children from poorer backgrounds.
Mr Gove added that, currently, 20% of children leaving primary school are incapable of reading, rising to 40% of children from poorer backgrounds.
He added: "These are the children who will go onto truant, who will go on to be disruptive potentially, who will miss out themselves, and will also undermine learning for others.
He said: "These are the children who will go on to truant, who will go on to be disruptive potentially, who will miss out themselves, and will also undermine learning for others."
"Unless we deal with this issue early on, then we are condemning these children to a life without effective education, and I'm afraid that's just not good enough."
'Increase burdens'
'Increase burdens'
Mr Balls said the government was already clear that phonics should be the "prime approach" in teaching young children to read.
Mr Balls said the opposition was either calling for measures the government were already pursuing or was looking to turn back the clock.
By introducing a new externally-administered test, the Tories would in fact turn the clock back and increase burdens and bureaucracy for every primary school Ed Balls
The government was already clear that phonics should be the "prime approach" in teaching young children to read, he added.
"Today 100,000 more 11 year olds are reaching the required standard in literacy than 10 years ago, but I know there is more to do. That is why we are rolling out nationally our successful Every Child a Reader programme.
"Today 100,000 more 11 year olds are reaching the required standard in literacy than 10 years ago, but I know there is more to do. That is why we are rolling out nationally our successful Every Child a Reader programme.
"By introducing a new externally administered test, the Tories would in fact turn the clock back and increase burdens and bureaucracy for every primary school."
"By introducing a new externally-administered test, the Tories would in fact turn the clock back and increase burdens and bureaucracy for every primary school."
The head of education at the National Union of Teachers, John Bangs, said he did not want to see synthetic phonics used as "a magic bullet for everything".
"It's an important part of the jigsaw but it's not the only part of the jigsaw and every teacher Michael talks to will tell him that."
He added: "I do hope that this is not the opening up of 'the teaching profession has got it wrong'.
"I do hope that Michael and his party continue a dialogue with the teaching profession about what works instead of a magic bullet."
Tory leader David Cameron will spell out the party's education policy with the publication of a paper on Tuesday.
Tory leader David Cameron will spell out the party's education policy with the publication of a paper on Tuesday.
Are you a parent? What do you think of these plans? Should "synthetic phonics" be more widely used? How do you help your child learn to read? Send us your comments using the form below:
Are you a parent? What do you think of these plans? Should "synthetic phonics" be more widely used? How do you help your child learn to read? Send us your comments using the form below:
