§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment his Department has made of the phono-graphics method of teaching children to read, with particular reference to children with dyslexia. [65618]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Standards and Effectiveness Unit (SEU) has had discussions with the authors of the scheme, and remain in contact. The National Literacy Strategy enshrines many of the principles underpinning the scheme, including the importance of phonemic awareness for making progress in literacy. The strategy is a practical programme for raising standards in primary schools which aims to ensure that all children, including those with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, are taught to read and write well. All teachers are being trained in the most effective methods of teaching literacy, and schools are implementing a structured daily Literacy Hour.