From phonological awareness to pencil control, James McTaggart offers five keys to the early teaching of reading that will set pupils up for future success
We write with our brains: Fine motor skills to support writing are only part of the picture - Adobe Stock

A teacher, a speech and language therapist, an educational psychologist, and an occupational therapist went into a bar…

This is not the start of a joke but something that really happened. In that bar, we were wrestling with two problems that beset many a primary school.

Why, despite excellent, evidence-based, initial instruction, do some learners still not make the hoped-for progress? They might get the basic phonics, but struggle with a blend; grip a pencil but have no grasp of what to write.

And why do others make great initial progress, only to fade in later years, struggling with comprehension, or finding it hard to write more than a few sentences?

Register now, read forever

Thank you for visiting Headteacher Update and reading some of our content for professionals in primary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.

What's included:

  • Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcasts

  • New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here