Phonics roadshows to help create better readers

To mark World Book Day, 3 March, the Department for Education (DfE) has announced a series of roadshow events to promote effective phonics teaching and early reading skills.

The governmental initiative has been launched in response to the latest phonics screening check results, which show that despite strong progress there are still regional variations in the proportion of children reaching the expected standard in reading by the end of Year 1.

Latest DfE figures show that 120,000 more children across the country are now on track to become excellent readers since the introduction of the phonics reading check three years ago.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “World Book Day offers us all a chance to celebrate the exciting doors which reading can open and it is phonics that provides the key to unlocking a lifetime of books.

“Thanks to our relentless focus on phonics and the hard work of teachers, thousands more children every year are being given the tools to become confident and independent young readers. These events, delivered by some of our best schools, will help spread that excellence further so no child misses out on the joy reading brings.”

In September 2015, the Department for Education announced its ambition to be the best in Europe for reading by 2020.