Literacy

The latest news, analysis and best practice advice when it comes to literacy, from recent research and how to implement it to new guidance and what it means

Wednesday

15th Oct 2025

Government sets 90% phonics check target
A mandatory reading test for Year 8 students will also be introduced by the end of this parliament, Bridget Phillipson confirms
Government sets 90 per cent phonics target

Tuesday

14th Oct 2025

How metacognitive routines can boost reading comprehension
Year 5 teacher Aaron Regan explains how a series of metacognitive strategies has helped his class to get better at inference and articulating their ideas about texts
Child puzzled reading a book

Friday

10th Oct 2025

Beyond phonics: why England still has a reading problem
The latest phonics screening check data is further proof that teaching reading is not ‘done’ at the end of KS1, writes Claire Heald
School children with phonics cards

Thursday

2nd Oct 2025

Do schools need a Year 8 reading test?
The DfE plans to introduce a new reading assessment for Year 8, but how useful would this be for schools? Reading researcher Jessie Ricketts gives her view
Year 8 reading test

Tuesday

30th Sep 2025

Legal requirement sought for library in every Scottish secondary
The number of school libraries in Scotland has ‘drastically reduced’ over past decade, warns Scottish Book Trust
Legal requirement sought for library in every Scottish secondary

Monday

29th Sep 2025

Reeves pledges library in every English primary school
Chancellor’s promise to create libraries in 1,700 primaries has been welcomed by teaching unions, but questions have been raised over difficulties in finding space and staff
Reeves pledges library in every English primary school

Wednesday

24th Sep 2025

Reading fluency: why it matters and how to teach it
A focus on reading fluency can help to bridge the gap between decoding and comprehension, says Penny Slater, who shares strategies for supporting children to become fluent readers
Little girl speaking into mic

Monday

1st Sep 2025

Can ‘short reading’ boost reading for pleasure at secondary?
Research suggests that regular reading sessions of just five minutes can make a big difference for young children, so one English teacher decided to trial the same approach with her key stage 3 classes
boy reading by lake

Wednesday

27th Aug 2025

What the writing framework gets wrong about writing
Following the release of the DfE’s primary writing framework, writing researcher Debra Myhill shares her thoughts on its use of evidence and how it positions the skills involved in learning to write
Girl writing on page

Thursday

7th Aug 2025

Teaching secondary literacy: a reading list
Developing literacy doesn’t stop at primary school, so where can secondary teachers and leaders turn for support on continuing to build this crucial skill?
Girl with key to a book

Monday

4th Aug 2025

Teaching primary literacy: a recommended reading list
Ahead of curriculum changes and a new writing framework, Megan Dixon shares her recommended reading to support primary literacy teaching
Children on bench reading

Wednesday

16th Jul 2025

4 ways to ensure GCSE English promotes reading for pleasure
The common practice of studying texts through small extracts has been blamed for a decline in reading for pleasure. Zofia Niemtus asks the experts what secondary English teaching can do to inspire a love of books
Illustration of teenagers lying on books reading