Nursery World - DfE names areas with low and high take-up of phonics resources and training

Thousands of schools have signed up to the Government's scheme for match-funding for phonics products.

Department for Education figures reveal that so far 3,211 primary schools have earmarked £7.7m to buy new phonics products and training.

The DfE has also named local authorities that have opted to spend the highest and lowest outlays in these areas.

Schools minister Nick Gibb said he was concerned that there were some local authorities that are yet to take up the offer, which is aimed at improving the way systematic synthetic phonics is used to teach children to read.

Currently 20 local authorities have no schools signed up to the scheme.

The phonics resources include teaching books, software and games. The department also confirmed that there are 987 schools that have booked phonics training for their staff, spending £1.3m to improve their teaching of phonics, the method which ministers advocate as the best method to teach children to read.

The scheme went ‘live' in September last year with the publication of the phonics catalogue of approved products and services. All materials that schools can buy must meet the DfE's criteria.

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