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Child Literacy: Disadvantaged Areas
22 February 2023
Lead MP
Alexander Stafford
Responding Minister
Robert Halfon
Tags
EducationCulture, Media & SportChildren & FamiliesLocal Government
Word Count: 4680
Other Contributors: 3
At a Glance
Alexander Stafford raised concerns about child literacy: disadvantaged areas in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I urge the Government to recognise the importance of early years funding, prioritise efficiently allocated funding towards primary schools and libraries, and support initiatives like the Primary School Library Alliance. The aim is to reach 1,000 schools by 2025, ensuring that every child in Rother Valley and across the UK has access to an adequately sized and well-resourced library.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
I am concerned about the three quarters of a million school-aged children in the UK who do not have access to a school library. This is alarming given that reading is fundamental for functioning in society and academic performance. Additionally, there is a 40% development gap between disadvantaged 16-year-olds and their peers by age five, with only £342 per pupil allocated to early years education compared to £1,385 for primary school children. In my constituency of Rother Valley, literacy scores are below the national average, and Yorkshire and the Humber has one of the lowest rates of children's book ownership at 9.2%. Two in every five children in England eligible for free school meals do not have a dedicated library in their school.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Commended the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate and endorsed his views on literacy. As a grandfather with six grandchildren, he sees their eagerness to learn and believes that making books available in primary schools is crucial for building adults of tomorrow.
John Hayes
Con
South Holland and The Deepings
The Minister highlighted the importance of libraries in stimulating children's curiosity and dreams, emphasizing the role of school libraries in introducing classic literature to students. He also mentioned his personal involvement in saving a library in his constituency that has since flourished.
Blackpool South
Last year, Woodchurch Church of England Primary School in her constituency transformed an unoccupied area into a reading space with support from the children's laureate and BookTrust. The initiative has improved outcomes for vulnerable children, especially those with special educational needs, by embedding reading for pleasure into its culture. Intervened twice, first to discuss the importance of embedding reading for pleasure into the curriculum and later to ask if the Minister would give way.
Government Response
Robert Halfon
Government Response
Thanked the Member for Rother Valley for his speech, highlighting initiatives like Michael Morpurgo Month and emphasising the Government's focus on phonics in teaching early reading. Noted improvements seen internationally since 2016. Mentioned the English Hubs programme supporting over 1,600 schools with a high proportion of pupils on free school meals. Acknowledged the importance of libraries for promoting reading for pleasure and discussed funding initiatives such as the £3.5 billion spent annually on early education entitlements. Announced additional funding increases totalling £510 million for local authorities to increase hourly rates paid to childcare providers. Noted that the Department is committed to improving literacy levels for all pupils, ensuring high-quality teaching and supporting disadvantaged children.
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Assessment & feedback
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.