Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Reading Standards

Monday 27 February 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Since 2012, the proportion reaching the expected standard in the phonics screening check has increased from 58% to 82%.
  • England's ranking in international reading ability surveys for nine-year-olds improved from joint 10th to eighth.
  • The Government introduced universal infant free school meals in 2014, which means 1.25 million infants receive a free meal daily.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andy Carter
Education
Context

The question arises from the need to improve reading abilities among six-year-olds, following the introduction of the phonics screening check in 2012.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to improve reading standards since the introduction of the phonics screening check in 2012? The proportion reaching the expected standard has increased from 58% to 82% in 2019 before the pandemic, and England has risen from joint 10th to joint eighth in the international survey of nine-year-olds' reading ability.

Answer from Nick Gibb

Since 2012, the proportion reaching the expected standard in the phonics screening check has increased from 58% to 82%, and England's ranking in international reading ability surveys for nine-year-olds improved from joint 10th to eighth. £40 million has been invested in the English Hubs programme to spread best practice in teaching reading.

Answered
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Q2 Andy Carter
Education
Context

The question is prompted by a visit to Park Road Community Primary School in Warrington, where studies have shown that 80% of children with dyslexia do not have the condition identified before leaving school.

Question

At Park Road Community Primary School, I observed phonics in action and noted that 80% of children with dyslexia are not diagnosed until they leave school. Too many end up in alternative provision due to behavioural issues caused by a lack of understanding of their learning style. Does my right hon. Friend agree that early screening can help these children develop skills suited to their needs?

Answer from Nick Gibb

My hon. Friend is correct. Early identification of special educational needs, including dyslexia, is crucial for improving outcomes. Measures such as phonics screening checks and statutory assessments at key stages 1 and 2 are in place to help teachers identify these needs.

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Q3 Alan Brown SNP
Education Children & Families
Context

Hungry children struggle with learning and academic achievement, and there is a clear link between undernourishment and lower academic performance. The Scottish Government has committed to providing free school meals for all primary school children.

Question

Hungry children cannot learn effectively, which impacts their reading standards and life chances. There is a clear link between undernourishment and poor academic attainment. Given that the Scottish Government provides free school meals to all primary school children, should not the UK Government do the same?

Answer from Nick Gibb

The Government introduced universal infant free school meals in 2014, which means 1.25 million infants receive a free meal daily. Additionally, we have increased the number of eligible children from 1.7 to 1.9 million, so around a third of all children today enjoy nutritious lunches at school.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question specifically asked about providing free meals for all primary school children, not just infants.

How: Changing The Subject

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