HC Deb 11 June 1998 vol 313 cc695-6W
Gillian Merron

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in implementing the Government's literacy strategy in primary schools. [43758]

Mr. Goggins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in implementing the Government's literacy strategy in primary schools. [43777]

Mr. Byers

Since the beginning of the year, we have agreed literacy targets for 11 year olds by 2002 with every LEA in the country; allocated £59 million of Standards Funding to support training and development at LEA and school level; produced a detailed scheme of work for teaching literacy—300,000 copies have been distributed since the end of March to meet demand from schools; and prepared and distributed distance learning materials to every primary school in England. These materials will support the INSET training all primary schools will devote to literacy in the next school year.

Over 300 LEA appointed literacy consultants have been trained, and every primary school will be trained this term on the management of literacy at school level.