An independent report on Phonics The Department held a seminar on 17 March 2003 to look at how the National Literacy Strategy (NLS) could improve the teaching of Phonics. Six professionals were invited to give presentations and present papers at the seminar. Three of the presentations looked at current research, and the other three presentations looked at phonics programmes currently being run in schools to see if these could help inform the development of the NLS. A presentation was also given and a paper was prepared by the NLS. Professor Greg Brooks, from the University of Sheffield was commissioned to write a report and make recommendations to the Department based on the papers presented at the seminar, and the discussions at the seminar itself.

You can view and download the report and the individual papers below: Sound sense: the phonics element of the National Literacy Strategy: Report by Professor Greg Brooks  [311k] DfES Response to the March 2003 Phonics Seminar and Professor Greg Brooks' Report  [129k] Teaching phonics in the National Literacy Strategy: National Literacy Strategy  [477k] Systematic Phonics Instruction: Findings of the National Reading Panel: Professor Linnea Ehri  [228k] Fine tuning the National Literacy Strategy to ensure continuing progress in improving standards of reading in the UK: Some suggestions for change: Dr Morag Stuart  [275k] Accelerating Reading and Spelling with Synthetic Phonics: A Five Year Follow Up: Professor Rhona Johnston  [189k] Teaching Phonics in Context - A Critique of the National Literacy Strategy: Dr Jonathan Solity  [683k] Literacy programmes: Ruth Miskin  [143k] Why all teachers should be trained to use the THRASS 'periodic table of phonics': Alan Davies  [134k]

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