Meetings

NDM8693 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the 2022 PISA results that found that reading scores in Wales were the worst in the United Kingdom, and well below the OECD average.

2. Regrets that 20 per cent of children in Wales are functionally illiterate at the time they enter secondary school.

3. Recognises that the system of cueing to teach reading was banned in England in 2005, over concerns it could undermine efforts to teach pupils to read, but this has still not happened in Wales.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) immediately issue guidance to ensure and advocate that schools and teachers use the phonics method of teaching reading to improve performance; and

b) urgently bring forward reading testing regimes, as seen in other parts of the United Kingdom, to drive up reading standards.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Supports:

a) boosting reading standards as part of the Welsh Government’s priority to boost standards in schools and colleges;

b) embedding literacy across all areas of learning as part of the Curriculum for Wales;

c) taking action to improve the teaching of reading, including making the wording of guidance clearer where needed; and

d) using personalised assessments to support learner progress in reading and to track improvements nationally.

2. Notes that expectations on the importance of phonics are already set out in the Curriculum for Wales statutory guidance.

3. Recognises that decisions about the teaching of reading must always be guided by the best interests of the learner.

Curriculum for Wales statutory guidance

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected.

Amendment 2 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) immediately issue guidance to ensure that the phonics method is at the forefront of teaching reading to improve performance;

b) conduct an ongoing review of the latest expert evidence and compare with good practice in other countries to ensure the most effective methods of teaching reading skills;

c) reaffirm its target of achieving 500 points in all three areas assessed by PISA, including reading skills, and publish a new strategy, with measurable milestones, to achieve this; and

d) assess why the PISA results, including reading skills, of pupils in disadvantaged areas are lower than those of pupils in similar communities in England.

Amendment 3 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at the end of motion:

Regrets that the Government has failed to meet its most recent target of securing 500 points in each of the three areas assessed by PISA by 2022, including reading skills, after failing to meet the original target for Wales to be among the top 20 countries on the PISA list.

The item started at 18.10

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8693 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the 2022 PISA results that found that reading scores in Wales were the worst in the United Kingdom, and well below the OECD average.

2. Regrets that 20 per cent of children in Wales are functionally illiterate at the time they enter secondary school.

3. Recognises that the system of cueing to teach reading was banned in England in 2005, over concerns it could undermine efforts to teach pupils to read, but this has still not happened in Wales.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) immediately issue guidance to ensure and advocate that schools and teachers use the phonics method of teaching reading to improve performance; and

b) urgently bring forward reading testing regimes, as seen in other parts of the United Kingdom, to drive up reading standards.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
13	0	34	47

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Supports:

a) boosting reading standards as part of the Welsh Government’s priority to boost standards in schools and colleges;

b) embedding literacy across all areas of learning as part of the Curriculum for Wales;

c) taking action to improve the teaching of reading, including making the wording of guidance clearer where needed; and

d) using personalised assessments to support learner progress in reading and to track improvements nationally.

2. Notes that expectations on the importance of phonics are already set out in the Curriculum for Wales statutory guidance.

3. Recognises that decisions about the teaching of reading must always be guided by the best interests of the learner.

Curriculum for Wales statutory guidance

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	0	22	47

Amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected.

Amendment 3 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Add as new point at the end of motion:

Regrets that the Government has failed to meet its most recent target of securing 500 points in each of the three areas assessed by PISA by 2022, including reading skills, after failing to meet the original target for Wales to be among the top 20 countries on the PISA list.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

For	Abstain	Against	Total
23	0	24	47

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Supports:

a) boosting reading standards as part of the Welsh Government’s priority to boost standards in schools and colleges;

b) embedding literacy across all areas of learning as part of the Curriculum for Wales;

c) taking action to improve the teaching of reading, including making the wording of guidance clearer where needed; and

d) using personalised assessments to support learner progress in reading and to track improvements nationally.

2. Notes that expectations on the importance of phonics are already set out in the Curriculum for Wales statutory guidance.

3. Recognises that decisions about the teaching of reading must always be guided by the best interests of the learner.

For	Abstain	Against	Total
25	9	13	47

The motion as amended was agreed.