The review, published on Monday, said children should be taught to read primarily with systematic synthetic phonics by the age of five. The final report, led by Jim Rose, confirmed the initial findings published last December.
However, it also acknowledges the controversy in the early years sector about the age that synthetic phonics should be introduced. There are also concerns among practitioners that there could be downward pressure to use synthetic phonics to teach reading to under-fives.
Last month a group of early years specialists launched a campaign against the plans (News, 2 February).
'It would be ridiculous for the review to suggest that phonics teaching should start at the stroke of midnight on every child's fifth birthday,'
the review said. However, it added that there was 'ample evidence' to support the interim report's recommendation that 'for most children it is highly worthwhile and appropriate to begin a systematic programme of phonic work by the age of five, if not before for some children'.
The review says the proposed revised standards for early years professionals should take account of the EYFS and revised Primary National Strategy framework for teaching literacy.
The review drew evidence from the pilot schemes launched last September, with primary schools and early years settings trialling new approaches to the Strategy's 'Playing with Sounds' (News, 4 August 2005).
Paul Wagstaff, director of the Primary National Strategy, said, 'The programme shows that phonics can be taught well within the context of a broad and rich Foundation Stage curriculum without compromising good early years practice.'
Read the Independent review of the teaching of early reading at www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/rosereview/finalreport.
