This report summarises evidence on progress towards the seven Closing the Gap targets agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), along with an analysis of the underlying key drivers of change. The COAG targets are set out in the National Indigenous Reform Agreement (NIRA) between the Australian Government and the state and…

In the light of a decision taken in April 2009 that the arts will be included in a projected national curriculum it seems relevant to examine "First We See: The National Review of Visual Education," which was completed in August 2008. That Review recommends the development of a visual education curriculum for the compulsory years of…

Literacy in Early Childhood and Primary Education provides a comprehensive introduction to literacy teaching and learning. The book explores the continuum of literacy learning and children's transitions from early childhood settings to junior primary classrooms and then to senior primary and beyond. Reader-friendly and accessible, this book equips…

These materials aim to help teachers make explicit links between teaching in the Literacy Hour and in the rest of the curriculum. The materials map teaching objectives from England's National Literacy Strategy's (NLS) Framework for Teaching to various text types and lists NLS resources which can be used to support teaching and learning. Text types…

Notes that in England, literature (poetry, narrative, plays) is taught as part of the National Literacy Strategy and a child's knowledge of how it works may be assessed if literary texts are included in the end of Key Stage 2 reading test. Explores some of the dangers which result from viewing the minimum entitlement as the maximum being aimed at…

This list of year-by-year statements has been drawn together from England's National Literacy Strategy Framework for Teaching, with a particular focus on reading. The statements also take into account the stages set out in "Progression in Phonics" and the criteria for assessing reading in National Curriculum assessment at Years 2 and 6.…

This booklet contains lists of words and ideas to help in the teaching of the "Key Stage 2" spelling objectives set out in England's National Literacy Strategy Framework for Teaching. In the booklet, a page is devoted to each individual objective, although there are obvious links between objectives, particularly those covering prefixes,…

The importance of appropriate communication, language and literacy learning in the early years cannot be overestimated. Children who enter school with well-developed communication and literacy skills have a considerable advantage over those who have yet to start. In England, children enter Reception classes at different points throughout the…

Maintains that cultural literacy's emphasis on "what" students should know must be shifted to a concern for "how" they come to know. Describes various theories of reading and the role of the teacher and practical illustrations of them. Criticizes notions of core curricula while suggesting reasons for considering them. (HB)

This document is designed for use by teaching assistants running intervention sessions associated with the Early Literacy Support (ELS) Programme of the National Literacy Strategy. It is the essential guide to running the sessions each day, and includes details of resources and preparation for each session as well as a full script. The document…

This book contains materials to support the introduction of Early Literacy Support (ELS) in Year 1 schools in England. The 60 sessions outlined in the book are designed to revisit key objectives from the National Literacy Strategy Framework. The ELS program involves comprehension training for Year 1 teachers and teaching assistants. The training…

This framework for teaching sets out teaching objectives for Reception to Year 6 to enable pupils to become fully literate. It also gives guidance on the Literacy Hour in which this teaching will take place. The document is a reference point for day-to-day teaching, and help for headteachers and governors of schools in England as they plan and…

Standards in literacy and mathematics have risen substantially in primary schools in England in recent years. In 2002, 75% of pupils achieved the expected standard for their age in English and 73% did so in mathematics. This booklet is intended to stimulate discussion about the next steps needed to sustain those improvements and to raise standards…

England's National Literacy Strategy is intended to raise standards of literacy for every student. Teachers should aim to include each student in the Literacy Hour. Evidence from the National Literacy Project (NLP), on which the national strategy is based, shows that students with widely varying needs can expect to improve their literacy skills in…

These curriculum materials have been designed to help upper elementary students in England make a successful start at secondary school. These transition units consist of one unit involving 10 lessons at the end of Year 6 and a second unit of six lessons at the beginning of Year 7. The units use teaching objectives drawn from the primary and Key…