Penarth Times - news, sport, what's on, property, cars and jobs in Penarth, Sully and Dinas Powys

Basic skills improve

From the Penarth Times, first published Thursday 28th Feb 2002.

COMMITTED pupils at Albert Primary School are playing a vital part in raising standards of literacy and numeracy in Wales.

The youngsters are working with the National Basic Skills Strategy, which will have a real impact on the basic skills deficit in Wales.

Research from the agency reveals that around 780,000 people in Wales have problems with reading, writing and number work.

One of the key aims of the strategy is to decrease the number of adults with poor basic skills.

Staff and pupils at the school are already undertaking a range of activities and initiatives to drive this forward.

They are doing this through a Families Learning Together literacy scheme funded by the Basic Skills Agency.

Parents are tutored alongside their children and then a joint session is undertaken with children, parents and tutors.

A crËche is also provided for any pre-school children so the parents can work knowing their younger children are well looked after.

The strategy is being implemented by the Basic Skills Agency on behalf of the National Assembly.

It will introduce measures over the next three years to support further actions to tackle the basic skills deficit.

This is just the latest scheme devised by the Assembly to help improve standards in schools.

Recently, Jane Davidson, Minister for education and lifelong learning, announced a £25million cash boost for local education authorities in Wales.

She said the money would be used to reduce junior class sizes, support initiatives to improve standards on the transfer from primary to secondary school, and to lift attainment in under-performing schools.

She explained: "Authorities will have considerable discretion over how to allocate their grant between the three specific aims.

"It is sensible for local authorities to decide their allocation in the light of local circumstances."

Archive Home