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<p>The Department welcomes the National Literacy Trust’s research on reading in both
print and digital forms.</p><p>The Department wants children to develop the habit
of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information, whatever the format.
Research suggests that reading for pleasure is more important for children’s educational
development than their parents’ level of education.</p><p>There is sound evidence
that systematic synthetic phonics is a highly effective method of teaching reading
to children. Phonics performance is improving: in 2018, there were 163,000 more 6-year-olds
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>Building on the success of our phonics
partnerships and phonics roadshows programmes, in 2018, the Department launched a
£26.3 million English Hubs Programme. Hub schools are taking a leading role in improving
the teaching of early reading through systematic synthetic phonics, early language
development, and reading for pleasure. The Department has appointed 34 primary schools
across England as English Hubs.</p>
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