Six-year-olds in England will face a new reading test next summer, after trials this year.
They will be tested on how they read using phonics, where children learn the sound of letters and groups of letters.
The government says nearly half of the teachers who took part in the trial said it had helped them identify children with reading problems.
But teachers’ unions and the UK Literacy Association have been critical of the test.
A total of 300 schools took part in trials this summer.
At Elmhurst Primary School in east London, 120 pupils in Year 1 were checked.
Head teacher Shahed Ahmed described the outcome.
He said children came out of their class one by one to look at a booklet of 20 simple words and 20 “pseudo” (made-up) words with their teacher.
“There were four to six words on each page and it took about five to seven minutes per child,” he said.
“It’s a quick check of children’s phonic knowledge, not a reading test.
“We want to know that they can read the sounds of letters and blend them together.”
The “non-words” used include “vap” and “vog”. They are there, the government says, to check whether children can use their knowledge of phonics to de-code or work out words.
The check is being introduced as part of the Westminster government’s drive to get all primary schools to teach children to read quickly using phonics systematically.
All schools in England probably use phonics to teach children to read but ministers say that to be effective, the system must be used systematically, rigorously and early.
One in five pupils does not reach the level of English expected of them when they leave primary school.
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “There is no doubt we need to raise standards of reading. Only last month we learnt that one in 10 boys aged 11 can read no better than a seven-year-old.
“The new check is based on a method that is internationally proven to get results, and the evidence from the pilot is clear – thousands of six-year-olds, who would otherwise slip through the net, will get the extra reading help they need to become good readers, to flourish at secondary school and to enjoy a lifetime’s love of reading.
“This study finds that the check will be of real benefit to pupils but takes just a few minutes to carry out, is backed by most teachers and is liked by most children.”
Teaching unions agree phonics is a good way of teaching children to read but say it is one of a range of techniques used by teachers, who should be trusted to vary their methods depending on their pupils.
Chris Keates, the general secretary of the NASUWT said: “NASUWT research, among thousands of teachers, has shown that the clear majority disagree with the introduction of a compulsory phonics reading test for six year olds.
“Teachers oppose the test because it will not provide robust information about a child’s reading ability.
“It is possible to pass a phonics reading test and still not be able to read.”
The UK Literacy Agency (UKLA) is campaigning against the check.
It says phonics is the most effective way of reading many words, but cannot be used to read all words, for example “come” and “once”, which require other techniques.
Greg Brooks, a former president of UKLA and Emeritus Professor at Sheffield University, says the check will inevitably become “high-stakes”, leading to teachers “teaching to the test” and causing anxiety for parents and children.
What do you think about this? Why not comment below or tweet us at @osirisedu
Or if you’re looking at taking a Phonics course then why not take a look at ours? AND even better, you don’t have to pay for the whole of the course!
Osiris Educational has been approved by the government as one of the primary providers of synthetic phonics training for teachers and ours customers will be eligible to claim up to £3000 back!
Schools Minister Nick Gibb has recently announced a phonics match funding scheme to help primary schools teach systematic synthetic phonics and drive up reading standards in the UK
Primary schools will be able to claim up to £3,000, if they match that phonics funding, to spend on materials which meet the Department for Education’s criteria for an effective phonics programme.
A catalogue of phonics resources – including approved phonics products for teachers and pupils and training for teachers – will be published by the Department of Education in September. Schools will decide which of the resources will help them to deliver high-quality phonics teaching for their pupils and will be able to buy products and training with the phonics match-funding any time up to March 2013.
The Government is introducing a new phonics-based screening check for six-year-olds so teachers can identify children not at the expected reading level and in need of extra support.
How does phonics match funding work?
It is easy to get your government funding for Osiris phonics products. Eligible schools can spend up to £6000 on phonics training/resources and claim back up to £3000.
- Place your order with Osiris Educational
- We will notify the funding provider of the details of your order.
- The funding provider will verify that your school has sufficient funding available
- We will invoice your school for the full cost of the training
- Your school claims phonics match funding from their funding provider (i.e. 50% of the cost of the training).
If you’re interested then why not visit our website at: http://osiriseducational.co.uk/phonics/the-latest-information/phonics-match-funding/ to find out more information?
