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Written question asked by Caroline Lucas (Green Party) on Thursday, 21 February 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 25 February 2019. It was answered by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Friday, 1 March 2019 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Schools: Literacy

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of schools have run the Every Child a Reader (ECaR) programme in each year since that programme was introduced; what discussions he has had with head teachers about whether they have the resources they require to run the ECaR programme in (a) Brighton and Hove and (b) nationally; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

The Every Child a Reader programme was launched in 2005. The Department does not collect data on which programmes schools use to teach their pupils to read. Schools are expected to use evidence-based programmes that meet their pupils’ needs and ensure that they learn to read as early as possible.

The Department is investing £26 million in a national network of English hubs to support schools to teach early reading, with a focus on synthetic phonics.

Schools in Brighton and Hove will receive an increase in funding of 2.4% per pupil by 2019/20, or £2.9 million in total, compared to 2017/18. Nationally, there is more money going into the schools system than ever before, but the Department recognises the budgeting challenges schools face and that they are being asked to do more. That is why the Govenernment is supporting schools to make the most of every pound. Schools decide how to spend their budgets in a way that best supports their pupils, and discussions are regularly held with with headteachers about their funding.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
224320
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Schools Literacy
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk