Written question WQ88217

The recently published oracy and reading toolkit provides a package of information to support schools identify opportunities to achieve high standards of oracy and reading where the whole school community is working in a coordinated, consistent and sustained way. The toolkit recognises that schools are best placed to make decisions about the needs of their specific learners, including use of phonics. It also provides a platform to share examples of work that is having a positive impact upon oracy and reading standards to help schools learn from the experiences of others.

I am committed to ensuring that every learner has the reading skills they need to reach their potential, including their ability to draw on a range of strategies to read with speed, accuracy, expression and understanding. The Whole School Approach to reading and oracy emphasises the importance of maintaining interest and engagement in reading, and note the recent Estyn thematic on reading.