NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release
Wed December 6th 2006

READING PROGRAMME CHAMPION WELCOMES
CHANCELLOR'S PRE-BUDGET STATEMENT

The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement that help will be given to 30,000 children a year with reading difficulties by 2010-11was immediately welcomed by Jean Gross, Director of Every Child A Reader, the programme which was set up last year and has brought charities, business and Government together to fund skilled Reading Recovery teachers in mainly inner city schools.

She said: “We are delighted that the Government has decided to roll out the Every Child A Reader programme nationally. It is great news that 30,000 children can get the help they need. This will make a huge difference to the lives of children who struggle to learn to read – especially those who live in poverty.”

Notes for Editors

Every Child a Reader is a three year, £10 million project that aims to show that, with the right resources, it is possible to help almost all children with literacy problems, and narrow the achievement gap between poor children and those who are better off.

The DfES contributes around half the cost. Other sponsors include the KPMG Foundation, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, SHINE, the Indigo Trust, JJ Charitable Trust, the Mercers' Company and the Man Group plc.

A month ago research published by Every Child A Reader and the Institute of Education, University of London,  on more than 500 children showed massive gains in reading ability made by children receiving ‘Reading Recovery’ support through the project.

Results from the first year of the initiative, involving the most difficult to reach children in the country’s most disadvantaged areas , showed that children made an  average gain of 21 months in reading age in 4 - 5 months of teaching – well over four times the normal rate of progress.

Further information:

Neil Sherlock
Partner, Public Affairs
Direct - 020 7311 8855
Mobile - 07802 638943
Fax - 020 7311 4242