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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Children to read by six - Tories | Children to read by six - Tories |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| 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 English assessments 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. |
| 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". | 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". | 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. | "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 |
| 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. | 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 told BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "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. | Mr Gove told BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "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 were incapable of reading, rising to 40% of children from poorer backgrounds. | Mr Gove added that, currently, 20% of children leaving primary school were incapable of reading, rising to 40% of children from poorer backgrounds. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 'Increase burdens' | 'Increase burdens' |
| Mr Balls said the opposition was either calling for measures the government were already pursuing or was looking to turn back the clock. | 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 | 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. | 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." |
| 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. |
| Exclusion appeals | |
| Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said synthetic phonics was useful but the Tories were "obsessed" with it. He said: "They somehow think it is a magic solution for everything else." | |
| John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, criticised the move to end appeals against exclusions. | |
| He said: "The reason we don't [support the Tory proposal] is because we have consistently said appeals panels provide the natural justice avenue of appeal." | |
| "If it were not there, it would mean parents would take schools to court and headteachers do not want to spend more time in court defending appeals actions." | |
| Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "This is an own goal by the Tories, their badly thought-out education policies are back-firing once again." |