Conclusion 37

Establishing the proficiency of children’s reading is important in ensuring that additional support can be provided to those who need it, but we heard different views on when this should take place. The government’s new year eight reading test during secondary school may be a useful tool for teachers to identify children with reading difficulties, but it is important that this does not take further time and resources away from reading for pleasure and result in young people being more likely to view reading as a source of hard work and stress. We welcome the Minister’s assurance that the new test will not be used as an accountability measure for schools and urge the Department not to change its position on this. (Conclusion, Paragraph 145)