New reading test for youngsters to roll out next summer
Children in England will face a new reading test to improve child literacy figures following successful trials.
Around 300 schools took part in the initial trial, which saw five and six-year-olds tested on their reading ability through the use of phonics – or the sounds of individual and groups of letters.
However, the UK Literacy Council teaching unions are resisting the test's introduction.
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT union, said that the organisation's research has shown that "the clear majority [of teachers] disagree with the introduction of a compulsory phonics reading test".
However, schools minister Nick Gibb said: "The new check is based on a method that is internationally proven to get results."
The test also includes a number of made-up or pseudo words to help children perfect sounds and eventually spot which words are real and which are not.
It is expected that children will begin being tested using the new method between June 18th and 22nd 2012.
