Liberals $220m phonics focus aims to ‘end guesswork’ in learning to read Annika Smethurst and Adam Carey October 4, 2022 https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/liberals-220m-phonics-focus-aims-to-end-guesswork-in-learning-to-read-20221003-p5bmok.html?fbclid=IwAR0CteW0wZF-70SsmE1Yu_AiTCWw0CpZf8...

This article by Dr Sarah McGeown references the status quo in Scotland - and also that the lack of research-informed reading instruction is still an international issue: We have taken systematic synthetic phonics on as a universal way to teach children to decode, all within the big five areas of tea...

https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/general/embracing-hard-questions-over-reading-approaches-and-phonics This article in the TES by Henry Hepburn references Anne Glennie's petition. Anne is reaching a wider audience in Scotland - and must be commended for her continued efforts to inform teachers i...

Fantastic news from Tennessee described in this piece by Barbara Davidson via the Thomas Fordham Institute site! I have long since advocated that ALL teachers should be training in the reading science - not just early years and infant teachers! I constantly point out the teaching reading and spellin...

Update 7th September 2022: The incoming new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, appoints Kit Malthouse as the latest Education Secretary:


https://schoolsweek.co.uk/kit-malthouse ... secretary/


https://www.gov.uk/government/people/kit-malthouse

Melbourne City councillor, Roshena Campbell, writes an opinion piece for The Sydney Morning Herald : Read the room: It's time to act on our children's literacy September 5, 2022 https://www.smh.com.au/education/read-the-room-it-s-time-to-act-on-our-children-s-literacy-20220904-p5bf7w.html As parents...

Update: The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP was appointed Secretary of State for Education on 6 September 2022:

https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers ... -education


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_for_Education


https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Malthouse

Here is a piece describing some of the differences between 'Balanced Literacy' and the science of reading with explicit teaching in foundational literacy: https://righttoreadproject.com/2022/07/21/can-we-please-stop-talking-about-phonics/ Can We Please Stop Talking About Phonics? The discussion abou...

Turmoil in England's Conservative Political Party as two Ministers of State resign on the same day because of loss of faith in the leadership of Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. Michelle Donelan is appointed the new Secretary of State for Education to replace Nadhim Zahawi who is to be the new Chancel...

This list of freely accessible books and resources may be of interest to some parents and carers over the holidays - thank you to Kate Winn on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/thismomloves/status ... 2119029761