§ Mr. CasaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what training and support will be given to teachers in respect of raising literacy standards among pupils. [34910]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisAs part of the National Literacy Strategy, all primary teachers will receive training in the most effective methods of teaching literacy. All schools should now have received copies of the strategy's "Framework for Teaching" and, after Easter, they will be sent distance learning materials to use during their training days. We are also funding more than 200 LEA literacy consultants who will give direct support to classroom teachers.
From this September all primary trainees, on all courses of Initial Teacher Training, must follow our new national training curriculum in English. The curriculum specifies the essential knowledge, understanding and skills which all trainees must be taught and be able to use in relation to teaching literacy and language skills effectively in the classroom. The Teacher Training Agency is currently consulting on a parallel teachers national training curriculum for secondary teachers.