The Department for Education has said it will publish a framework for schools this summer that sets out a “common approach” for teaching writing.
The writing framework will “be a first step to support schools in delivering high-quality writing provision across England, ensuring all pupils have a strong foundation in writing”, the DfE said today.
It will “articulate a common approach to teaching writing rooted in evidence and good practice”, the government added.
The DfE has also today announced that £2 million in funding will be spent on increasing support for reading and writing.
Half of the money will be available for secondary schools “in the greatest need” to buy programmes to support struggling readers.
The other half will be spent on secondary and primary teacher training, the DfE said.
Raising standards in literacy
For secondary schools, this training will consist of a set of guidance and videos for leaders and another one for teachers. It has been developed by Dr Jessie Ricketts at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Next academic year the DfE intends to commission further training that focuses specifically on struggling readers.
At primary schools, teachers will receive additional training through the English Hubs programme aimed at helping children to progress from phonics in Reception and Year 1 to reading fluently by the time they leave primary.
The English Hubs programme, which focuses primarily on phonics, is based in 34 primary schools across the country. Some £23 million has been committed for this academic year.
The extra funding is intended to help the programme expand to support reading fluency through a CPD programme to assist teachers in using evidence-based fluency strategies in key stage 2.
Currently a third of children leave primary school without fundamental reading, writing and maths skills, the DfE said.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Reading and writing are the cornerstones of learning. They hold the keys to the rest of the curriculum, with pupils who struggle to read so often struggling across the board.
“So while progress has been made - in particular when it comes to phonics - now is the time to take that work to another level.”
The DfE will release further information on how secondary schools can apply for the £1 million for reading programmes in the summer.
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