Literacy tests at age six ‘are a waste’
Children's literacy tests set out by the education secretary have been dubbed a waste of money by one organisation.
The UK Literacy Association has called on Michael Gove to withdraw plans to carry out reading tests on six-year-olds as it suggests that they will do little to help a child in need of teacher interaction.
Mr Gove's Department for Education mentioned that tests of a child's ability at an early age are essential for monitoring the progress of children in the early stages of school.
The department added that those who need extra educational help need to be identified early to ensure they receive the necessary support.
Representatives from the association sent an open letter signed by 19 members to the government and said that literacy in schools should involve a more focused teacher-student approach and not take the form of a test.
The letter said: "The government is proposing to spend millions of pounds of taxpayers' money every year on a test which will increase workload, undermine teaching time and fail in its core purpose of accurately identifying children's needs in reading."
Since the coalition came to power, the go-ahead has been given to an £18.6 million plan to turn schools into academies.
