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Changing how literacy is taught: evidence on synthetic phonics

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  • Machin, Stephen
  • McNally, Sandra
  • Viarengo, Martina

Abstract

A significant number of people have very low levels of literacy in many OECD countries. This paper studies a national change in policy and practice in England that refocused the teaching of reading around "synthetic phonics." This was a low-cost intervention that targeted the pedagogy of existing teachers. We evaluate the pilot and first phase of the national rollout. While strong initial effects tend to fade out on average, they persist for those with children with a higher initial propensity to struggle with reading. As a result, this program helped narrow the gap between disadvantaged pupils and other groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Machin, Stephen & McNally, Sandra & Viarengo, Martina, 2018. "Changing how literacy is taught: evidence on synthetic phonics," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 88350, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:88350
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    1. Stewart, Kitty & Reader, Mary, 2021. "The Conservative governments' record on early childhood from May 2015 to pre-COVID 2020: policies, spending and outcomes," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121552, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Jo Blanden & Matthias Doepke & Jan Stuhler, 2022. "Education inequality," CEP Discussion Papers dp1849, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    3. Knutsson, Daniel & Tyrefors, Björn, 2024. "Labor Market Effects of a Youth Summer Employment Program in Sweden," Working Paper Series 1485, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    4. Berlinski, Samuel & Busso, Matias & Giannola, Michele, 2023. "Helping struggling students and benefiting all: Peer effects in primary education," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    5. Martin Bøg & Jens Dietrichson & Anna A. Isaksson, 2021. "A multi-sensory tutoring program for students at risk of reading difficulties: Evidence from a randomized field experiment," The Journal of Educational Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 114(3), pages 233-251, April.
    6. Holmlund, Helena & Häggblom, Josefin & Lindahl, Erica, 2024. "The Boost for reading," Working Paper Series 2024:6, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    7. Johnson, Helen & McNally, Sandra & Rolfe, Heather & Ruiz-Valenzuela, Jenifer & Savage, Robert & Vousden, Janet & Wood, Clare, 2019. "Reprint of: Teaching assistants, computers and classroom management," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 17-32.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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