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 the Key Stage 1 exam in English 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.
Other measures are also due to be outlined in an attempt to narrow the attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged children in England.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls said the plans were hastily cobbled together.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls said the plans were "hastily cobbled together".
He said the opposition were either calling for measures the government are already pursuing or were looking to turn back the clock.
Phonics
He said the opposition was either calling for measures the government are already pursuing or was looking to turn back the clock.
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.
In an article in the Sunday Times, Mr Gove said: "At the age of six, a child should have learned to read".
It is only once children have learnt to read that they can then go on to read to learn Michael Gove
He also said that "eradicating the plague of reading failure" would be the bedrock of further improvements in educational achievement.
In an article in the Sunday Times, Mr Gove said: "At the age of six, a child should have learned to read."
He added that "eradicating the plague of reading failure" would be the bedrock of further improvements in educational achievement.
"Nowhere has the educational establishment's influence been more damaging than in teaching reading," he said.
"It is only once children have learnt to read that they can then go on to read to learn.
"But every year, thousands of children leave primary school without the ability to read properly.
"And these are the young people who, because they cannot benefit from even the best teaching in secondary schools, go on to become disruptive and ill-disciplined and, all too often, drop out of the system."
'Increase burdens'
Mr Balls said the government was already clear that phonics should be the "prime approach" in teaching young children to read.
"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."
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:
