Huw Lewis, Minister for Education and Skills
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
Today we are publishing the Interim Report of the Evaluation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Programmes (NLNP).
I have made no secret that I want a world class education system and I welcome the findings in this interim evaluation report by our independent research contractors SQW published today. The ambitious policies contained within our NLNP are designed to bring about long term sustained improvement for all our learners in Wales.
This interim report shows us where we are doing well and it is extremely encouraging that we have ‘buy in’ for our programmes and that key policies have also led to changes in strategic planning designed to bring about long term sustained improvement for all our learners.
The fieldwork took place between September 2013 and December 2014 when programmes such as the National Literacy and Numeracy Framework (LNF), national testing and national support programme (NSP) were first introduced to schools. It is pleasing that awareness of the LNF and engagement with our NSP was high, with a widespread agreement for the aims of the NLNP.
The evaluation is ongoing with fieldwork in schools still being conducted. As part of this work a survey of school leaders was undertaken in the summer term to provide a better understanding of the views of the profession. The data from survey is currently being analysed by the independent researchers at SQW, these findings will be used to inform the topics for discussion in school case study visits being conducted in early 2016 and will ultimately provide further evidence for future policy development when they are incorporated into the full report.
I am committed to supporting practitioners to deliver on literacy and numeracy and will continue to invest in support and work together with our partners in Regional Education Consortia to ensure we get this right. I will issue a further response when the full report is published next year.