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1148311

	registered interest
	date	03/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Literacy
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure that everybody living in the UK is able to read and write English to a competent standard.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
	uin	HL18031
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>Ensuring children are taught to read well is vital to spreading opportunity. There is a substantial body of evidence that shows that systematic phonics is a highly effective method for teaching early reading.</p><p>This answer refers to education in England, as education is a devolved issue. Our phonics performance is improving. In 2019, 82% of pupils met the expected standard in the phonics screening check, compared to just 58% when the check was introduced in 2012. We are also investing £26.3 million in a national network of English hubs. We have appointed 34 primary schools across England as English hubs, who are taking a leading role in supporting nearly 3000 schools to improve their teaching of reading through systematic synthetic phonics, early language development, and reading for pleasure.</p><p>The national curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils develop the habit of reading widely and often, becoming independent, fluent and enthusiastic readers who read for pleasure and for information. Reading aloud is a part of this, and teachers are encouraged to read poetry, stories and non-fiction to younger pupils, as well as longer books to older pupils.</p><p>This government recognises the importance of strong literacy skills both in work and everyday life, which is why we provide full funding through the Adult Education Budget for people who need English skills to undertake a range of courses in GCSEs, functional skills and stepping stone qualifications from entry level to Level 2. To ensure as many people as possible have developed these skills by 19, the government requires students who have not yet achieved a Grade 4 in English to study it as part of the 16-19 study programme. Students taking Level 3 apprenticeships and T-Levels need to achieve a grade 4 at GCSE or pass functional skills. In 2018, nearly 80% of 19-year-olds held a Level 2 English qualification.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton grouped question UIN HL18030 question first answered 08/10/2019 12:14:26 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
	tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

1433802

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Literacy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many primary school children were below their expected reading age in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020 and (d) 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Twickenham
	tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
	uin	126840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2022 answer text <p>The department does not hold information on the number of pupils below their reading age in primary school. The closest information available is the number of pupils not meeting the expected standard in reading at the end of key stage 2. This data was not recorded for academic years 2019/20 or 2020/21 due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>The number of pupils not meeting the expected standard in reading at the end of key stage 2 was 154,169 (25%) in 2018 and 173,765 (27%) in 2019.</p><p>The number of pupils not meeting the expected standard in reading at the end of key stage 2 in state-funded schools for each local authority, region and parliamentary constituency in 2019 is in the attached table.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker grouped question UIN 126841 question first answered 24/02/2022 17:27:31 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker attachment 1 file name 126840_126841_table_KS2_expected_standard_in_reading_2019.xls title 126840_126841_table
	tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson

1433804

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Literacy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will provide a geographical breakdown by (a) local authority, (b) region and (c) parliamentary constituency of children who are below their expected reading age.
	tabling member constituency	Twickenham
	tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
	uin	126841
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2022 answer text <p>The department does not hold information on the number of pupils below their reading age in primary school. The closest information available is the number of pupils not meeting the expected standard in reading at the end of key stage 2. This data was not recorded for academic years 2019/20 or 2020/21 due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>The number of pupils not meeting the expected standard in reading at the end of key stage 2 was 154,169 (25%) in 2018 and 173,765 (27%) in 2019.</p><p>The number of pupils not meeting the expected standard in reading at the end of key stage 2 in state-funded schools for each local authority, region and parliamentary constituency in 2019 is in the attached table.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker grouped question UIN 126840 question first answered 24/02/2022 17:27:31 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker attachment 1 file name 126840_126841_table_KS2_expected_standard_in_reading_2019.xls title 126840_126841_table
	tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson

1130529

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Literacy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative assessment his Department’s has made of adult literacy levels in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Streatham
	tabling member printed	Chuka Umunna
	uin	261226
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/06/2019 answer text <p>The department has not conducted an assessment of adult literacy levels within the past 5 years.</p><p>We participate in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Survey of Adult Skills to assess our performance in literacy, which was last conducted in England and 24 other countries in 2011-12. Findings from the survey can be found at: <a href="http://www.oecd.org/skills/" target="_blank">http://www.oecd.org/skills/</a>.</p><p>The next Survey of Adult Skills will take place in 2021/22, with results available in 2023.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 13/06/2019 13:21:40 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

1149716

	registered interest
	date	14/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Literacy
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase literacy levels in England
	tabling member printed	Lord Bird
	uin	HL9
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2019 answer text <p>The government is committed to continuing to raise literacy standards, ensuring all children can read fluently and with understanding. The new national curriculum, introduced in 2014, has increased the focus on reading in the primary curriculum and has a focus on phonics. There is a substantial body of evidence that shows that systematic phonics is a highly effective method for teaching early reading.</p><p>The government introduced the light touch phonics screening check for year 1 pupils in 2012. The check is designed to assess pupils’ ability to decode and read words using phonics. Phonics performance is improving, with 82% of pupils meeting the expected standard in 2019, compared to 58% when the check was introduced.</p><p>Building on this success, in 2018 the department launched a £26.3 million English Hubs Programme. We have appointed 34 primary schools across England as English Hubs. The English Hubs Programme is supporting nearly 3000 schools in England to improve their teaching of reading through systematic synthetic phonics, early language development and reading for pleasure. The English Hubs are focused on improving educational outcomes for the most disadvantaged pupils in Reception and Year 1.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 24/10/2019 15:09:05 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
	tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

1166878

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Literacy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of adults in the UK who were (a) below OECD literacy Level 1, (b) at OECD literacy level 1 and (c) at OECD literacy level 2 in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	South West Surrey
	tabling member printed	Mr Jeremy Hunt
	uin	6321
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Education monitors literacy levels for adults through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) Survey of Adult Skills. The last study took place in 2012 and showed the following:</p><p><strong>Percentage of adults (aged 16-65) at each level in literacy in England, 2012</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>OECD level</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Percentage meeting this level in literacy</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Below Level 1</p></td><td><p>3.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Level 1</p></td><td><p>13.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Level 2</p></td><td><p>33.1%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Source: Table 2.7, Adult skills international survey 2012</p><p>The survey is available at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-survey-of-adult-skills-2012" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-survey-of-adult-skills-2012</a>.</p><p>The next OECD Survey of Adult Skills will take place in 2021/22.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 31/10/2019 15:02:00 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	1572 label Biography information for Jeremy Hunt

1182738

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Literacy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to encourage people to take part in adult literacy programmes in (a) Blackpool and (b) England.
	tabling member constituency	Blackpool South
	tabling member printed	Scott Benton
	uin	25198
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2020 answer text <p>The adult education budget (AEB) fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 years and above from pre-entry to level 3, to support adults to gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. This includes fully funded courses in English and maths, for adults aged 19 years and above who need to improve their literacy and numeracy, and fully funded first full level 2 or level 3, or both, for learners aged 19 to 23 years.</p><p>From the 2019/20 academic year, approximately 50% of the AEB has been devolved to six mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) and the Mayor of London, acting where appropriate through the Greater London Authority (GLA). These authorities are now responsible for the provision of AEB-funded adult education for their residents and allocation of the AEB to providers. The Education and Skills Funding Agency will continue to be responsible for the remaining AEB in non-devolved areas, including Blackpool.</p> answering member constituency Chichester answering member printed Gillian Keegan question first answered 11/03/2020 14:34:51 answering member 4680 label Biography information for Gillian Keegan
	tabling member	4793 label Biography information for Scott Benton

1233574

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Literacy
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Education Endowment Foundation’s publication Improving Literacy in Key Stage 1, published on 30 September 2016; and what additional funding they plan to provide to schools to improve literacy, including for (1) the accurate assessment of the capabilities and difficulties children have in literacy, and (2) for one-to-one tutoring for those in greatest need returning to school after the COVID-19 lockdown.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Rebuck
	uin	HL8030
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>The Education Endowment Foundation’s publication emphasises the importance of systematic phonics approaches in reading and writing activities with pupils in key stage 1. There is sound evidence that systematic phonics is a highly effective method for teaching early reading. The evidence indicates that the teaching of phonics is most effective when combined with a language rich curriculum to develop children’s positive attitudes towards literacy. The National Curriculum for English places a renewed focus on the requirement for pupils to learn to read through systematic phonics, applying phonic knowledge and skills to word reading.</p><p>In 2018 the department launched a £26.3 million English Hubs Programme. The department appointed 34 primary schools across England as English Hubs. The English Hubs Programme is supporting nearly 3,000 schools across England to improve their teaching of reading through systematic synthetic phonics, early language development, and reading for pleasure. The English Hubs are focused on improving educational outcomes for the most disadvantaged pupils in reception and year 1. The Education Endowment Foundation’s publication has been used widely across the English Hub community.</p><p>The government has announced a catch up package worth £1 billion, including a ‘Catch up Premium’ worth a total of £650 million to support schools to make up for lost teaching time. Our expectation is that this funding will be spent on the additional activities required to support children and young people to catch up after a period of disruption to their education.</p><p>The package also includes the National Tutoring Programme which provides up to £350 million to support disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils. This will increase access to subsidised, high-quality tuition for the most disadvantaged young people, helping to accelerate their academic progress and tackling the attainment gap between them and their peers.</p><p>To support settings to make best use of this funding, the Education Endowment Foundation have published a COVID-19 support guide which includes evidence-based approaches to catch up for all students. Details can be found here: <a href="https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/national-tutoring-programme/covid-19-support-guide-for-schools/" target="_blank">https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/national-tutoring-programme/covid-19-support-guide-for-schools/</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 24/09/2020 11:24:47 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
	tabling member	4332 label Biography information for Baroness Rebuck

1252989

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Literacy
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Prime Minister on 4 November (HC Deb, col 318), whether literacy is intended to be a part of the tutoring programme; and if so, (1) what plans they have to survey literacy levels across all age groups, (2) whether the tutoring will be available to all schools across England, and (3) what steps they are taking to ensure that adequate funding is available for that programme.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Rebuck
	uin	HL10441
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2020 answer text <p>We are providing £1 billion of catch-up support to schools to help make up for lost learning. All schools with pupils aged 5-16 are receiving their share of the £650 million catch-up premium, which can be used to prioritise support for all pupils. We are spending up to £350 million on the National Tutoring Programme (NTP). The NTP will provide additional, targeted support to disadvantaged children and young people in schools across England who need the most help to catch-up.</p><p>The NTP for 5-16 years olds went live on 2 November. The NTP offers tuition support for a range of curriculum subjects, including English, at both primary and secondary level. It is important that decisions about what support pupils receive are made locally by those who understand their needs. As such, teachers use their professional judgement to determine which pupils would most benefit from NTP support based on their need. Further information about the launch of the NTP is available here: <a href="https://nationaltutoring.org.uk/news/national-tutoring-programme-launches-in-schools" target="_blank">https://nationaltutoring.org.uk/news/national-tutoring-programme-launches-in-schools</a>.</p><p>Additionally, the NTP is supporting an oral language programme for reception-aged children. Any state-funded school with a reception class was able to register their interest in delivering the programme, with priority given to those schools with the highest levels of disadvantage (percentage of free school meals). Participating schools will begin delivery in January 2021. Further information about the oral language programme is available here: <a href="https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/neli/" target="_blank">https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/neli/</a>.</p><p>We are also making funding available to school sixth forms, colleges, and all other 16-19 providers to offer support small group tuition for lower attaining 16-19 year olds, in English, maths, and other courses where learning has been disrupted as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Further information about this is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-funding-16-to-19-tuition-fund" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-funding-16-to-19-tuition-fund</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 01/12/2020 11:57:42 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
	tabling member	4332 label Biography information for Baroness Rebuck

1697538

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Literacy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on levels of adult literacy in the UK; and what steps she is taking to increase adult literacy levels.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	19687
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>The department recognises the importance of good literacy skills, both in work and everyday life. Securing good levels of literacy has a positive impact on participation in society, improves earnings and employment opportunities and opens doors to further learning.</p><p>The department participates in the OECD’s International Survey of Adult Skills, which was last conducted in England and 24 other countries in 2011-12. The results show that 16% of 16-65-year-olds have the literacy skills of an 11 year old, or lower. The next survey is due to report in late 2024. A link to view the OECD adult skills surveys can be found here: <a href="https://www.oecd.org/skills/piaac/" target="_blank">https://www.oecd.org/skills/piaac/</a>.</p><p>The government has also conducted the Skills for Life survey in 2011 which provided a national profile of adult literacy, numeracy, and ICTskills, and assessed the impact that different levels of skills had on people’s lives. The survey findings were published in 2012 and reported that, in England, 15% of the working age population have the literacy skills of an 11 year old, or lower (an estimated 5 million people).</p><p>The department also gathers data annually from providers delivering government funded adult further education (FE) and skills provision in England. The latest statistics can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/further-education-and-skills-march-2024" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/further-education-and-skills-march-2024</a>.</p><p>To improve essential literacy and numeracy skills, a legal entitlement was introduced through the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (Sections 87-89).This legal entitlement can be viewed here: <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/22/part/4/chapter/1/crossheading/education-and-training-for-persons-aged-19-or-over-etc" target="_blank">https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/22/part/4/chapter/1/crossheading/education-and-training-for-persons-aged-19-or-over-etc</a>.</p><p>Through its legal entitlement, the department provides fully-funded study for adults who do not have essential literacy skills up to the equivalent of a GCSE grade 4/C or higher. In the 2022/23 academic year, around 223,000 learners participated in a literacy course funded through the entitlement.</p><p>The department supports all adults for whom English is not their first language to secure the English language skills they need. Adults are fully-funded or co-funded to study English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses and qualifications up to and including GCSE 4/C equivalent. The number of learners participating in ESOL courses and qualifications continues to grow, with around 144,000 learners in the 2022/23 academic year. Already, round 120,000 learners have participated in ESOL courses in the first two quarters of this academic year.</p><p>The department recognises that community learning within its Adult Education Budget (AEB) can play a valuable role in helping individuals improve their literacy, particularly for learners where a qualification is not the most appropriate first step.</p><p>Currently 60% of the AEB has been devolved to 9 Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and delegated to the Mayor of London, working where appropriate through the Greater London Authority (GLA). These authorities are responsible for the provision of adult education and allocation of the AEB in their local areas, including funding of English and maths statutory entitlements. The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is responsible for the remaining AEB in non-devolved areas where colleges and other training providers have the freedom and flexibility to determine how they use their AEB to best meet the needs of their communities.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 26/03/2024 15:57:11 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi