Literacy plan in Wales ‘not fit for purpose’ — expert's parting shot

AN expert has quit the Welsh Government’s £8.2m literacy panel saying it's “not fit for purpose”.

- By ABBIE WIGHTWICK

Elizabeth Nonweiler, left, has written to Education Secretary Lynne Neagle saying Wales' literacy panel has achieved next to nothing in a year of work

Elizabeth Nonweiler has written to Education secretary Lynne Neagle saying the panel has achieved next to nothing in a year of work.

Failings are now built into Wales’ new literacy programme because of disagreements on how best to teach children to read, Ms Nonweiler, who is also chair of the respected Reading Reform Foundation, claimed.

Her resignation and criticisms follow warnings about literacy standards from the Chief Inspector for Schools.

Teenagers are this term sitting international Pisa tests at which Wales has lagged in literacy and numeracy for years, despite promises of improvements.

Publishing her resignation from the panel in a letter to the minister online, Ms Nonweiler told Lynne Neagle she is sharing her criticisms publicly “because it affects every child learning to read, every teacher and every parent who depends on a strong start”.

‘The expert called on the minister to scrap the current literacy panel and scheme. She said that after a year of meetings it is “clear that the panel cannot deliver what Wales needs”.