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<p>There is a significant body of evidence that demonstrates that systematic phonics
is a highly effective method for teaching early reading. According to the Education
Endowment Foundation (EEF), phonics approaches have been consistently found to be
effective in supporting younger readers to master the basics of reading, with an average
impact of an additional four months’ progress. Research suggests that phonics is particularly
beneficial for younger pupils (four to seven year olds) as they begin to read. Teaching
phonics is more effective on average than other approaches to early reading (such
as whole language or alphabetic approaches), though it should be emphasised that effective
phonics techniques are usually embedded in a rich literacy environment for early readers
and are only one part of a successful literacy strategy[1].</p><p>In 2018 there were
163,000 more six year olds in England on track to become fluent readers compared to
2012. This represented 82% of pupils meeting the expected standard in the phonics
screening check, compared to just 58% when the check was introduced in 2012.</p><p>The
Department is investing £26 million in a national network of English hubs to support
local schools in developing their teaching practice, with a focus on systematic phonics,
early language development and reading for pleasure. There are now 34 such hubs, based
in primary schools across England.</p><p>[1] EEF Phonics Teaching and Learning Toolkit,
updated August 2018 (available at: <a href="https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/teaching-learning-toolkit/phonics/"
target="_blank">https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/teaching-learning-toolkit/phonics/</a>).</p>
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