Written question asked by Caroline Lucas (Green Party) on Tuesday, 22 March 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 March 2011. It was answered by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Wednesday, 30 March 2011 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Literacy: Teaching Methods

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the proposed Year 1 phonics screening test.

Answer: We intend to pilot the Year 1 phonics screening check in approximately 300 schools this June. The cost of the pilot is currently estimated at £250,000 excluding the cost of print and distribution, and monitoring and evaluation, where procurement is not yet complete. We will publish further information on the funding of the pilot once procurement is complete and detailed costs are finalised.We will continue to gather evidence and take advice from schools about the check during the pilot stage before finalising the arrangements, and confirming the costs, for the introduction of the check as a statutory assessment in 2012.

Secondary information