§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to initiate a nationwide campaign to encourage parents to read to their children at home; and if he will make a statement on children's reading.
§ Mr. ForthIt is already the Government's policy to encourage parental involvement in children's reading. There is a general requirement at key stage 1—ages five to42W seven—of national curriculum English that teachers should actively encourage parents to share in their child's reading. The National Curriculum Council's non-statutory guidance for teachers of English stresses that teachers will need to involve parents as fully as possible in this aspect of the curriculum by discussing with them their child's reading and providing advice if necessary.
In addition, the Department has supported a study by the United Kingdom Reading Association (UKRA) of family reading groups (FRGs), as a result of which UKRA are preparing guidelines on how to set up and run these groups successfully.
More generally, my right hon. Friend's recent announcement of a review of national curriculum English made clear the Government's commitment to improving standards in essential skills such as reading.