Report of the Literacy Taskforce
As a key input into the development of the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, in 1999 the Government established the Literacy Taskforce to provide advice on how the goal should be defined, how progress towards it should be measured, and the ways in which literacy learning could best be supported. The taskforce was asked to make specific recommendations to improve teaching and learning for children in their first four years at school, to identify those aspects of current practice that need affirming or reinforcing, and to indicate programmes or practices that need reviewing. This Literacy and Numeracy Strategy is no longer an active strategy.
Executive Summary
The Literacy Taskforce endorsed the Government’s goal that “By 2005, every child turning nine will be able to read, write, and do maths for success.”
The taskforce agreed that the goal provides a focus for the whole community to support children’s learning both in and out of school. Defining the goal through providing a rich description of the knowledge, understandings, skills, and attitudes that nine-year-olds should demonstrate when they are reading and writing for success will set clear national expectations that everyone – teachers, parents, and children – can understand and work towards.
The Literacy Taskforce believes that the goal can be achieved by ensuring that all children receive the best possible teaching in their first four years at school. This means that teachers must be well prepared for their challenging jobs through high-quality teacher education that includes a strong focus on developing the skills and knowledge necessary to implement best practice in the teaching of reading and writing. It means that teachers should be supported by strong professional leadership in their schools, through ongoing access to quality professional development opportunities, with appropriate classroom materials, and with the support of effective interventions when they identify children who need a period of intensive specialised teaching.
The Literacy Taskforce agreed that children’s learning is enhanced by effective partnerships between school and home and that people and organisations in the community can support children’s learning in a range of ways, many of which are simple yet effective.
The recommendations of the Literacy Taskforce are directed towards this end.