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Literacy experts plead with Michael Gove to do a U-turn on his plan for phonics testing for six-year-olds

This time next year, every year 1 students in England probably be a new national assessment test of reading ability is a central aspect of their encounter. The children aged between five and six, are presented with 40 different words on paper, and asked her to explore them to their teachers or other adults. Some words are the most famous, while others are made-or "not" words like "mip" or "glimp" only to the child 's ability to serve the debate is to follow rules, such as they exist, of written English.

The test, Mansell said, is very controversial, with most parents unware that it will happen, but described "several influential organizations fulminant and their potential impact and costs." Leading literacy figures it as "abomination" and potentially "\ catastrophic".

The purpose of the exercise is to the children who need help so that resources can be directed to them must realize, however, Greg Brooks, Professor Emeritus of Education at the University of Sheffield, said Mansell teachers can and should do this without the test. And Moreoever, they should do so at the beginning of the year instead of this one until May.

The comment thread on this story, is booming.

tiwilliams is this:

It's a debate that is set to run and run.

From today's Education Guardian

Meet the Saxons

On the Guardian Teacher Network

• How can we teach the history of Far East Prisoners of War

This includes a collection of interviews with men, the years of forced labor, malnutrition and neglect in the Far East prisoners-of-war camp prisoners endured during the Second World War. The archive is part of a pioneering education project for secondary schools from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund) was established.

Background of the powerful and moving interviews here

The network also has lessons for Make a Difference Day. For more information about the day visit www.csv.org.uk and look for the Make a Difference Day campaign.

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