To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of schools have run the Every Child a Reader (ECaR) programme in each year since that programme was introduced; what discussions he has had with head teachers about whether they have the resources they require to run the ECaR programme in (a) Brighton and Hove and (b) nationally; and if he will make a statement.
Answered on
1 March 2019
The Every Child a Reader programme was launched in 2005. The Department does not collect data on which programmes schools use to teach their pupils to read. Schools are expected to use evidence-based programmes that meet their pupils’ needs and ensure that they learn to read as early as possible.
The Department is investing £26 million in a national network of English hubs to support schools to teach early reading, with a focus on synthetic phonics.
Schools in Brighton and Hove will receive an increase in funding of 2.4% per pupil by 2019/20, or £2.9 million in total, compared to 2017/18. Nationally, there is more money going into the schools system than ever before, but the Department recognises the budgeting challenges schools face and that they are being asked to do more. That is why the Govenernment is supporting schools to make the most of every pound. Schools decide how to spend their budgets in a way that best supports their pupils, and discussions are regularly held with with headteachers about their funding.