If a company tells you that they can diagnose pupils' individual barriers to reading development via question-level analysis of a standardised comprehension assessment (computer-based or otherwise), they are almost certainly selling you snake oil. 🧵🪡

Following a few requests from teachers and school leaders, I've made short video on the key ideas that I think teachers (and parents/carers) need to know about reading development, based on my reading concept map. The Reading Map - A Primer youtu.be/JvtUxB5WM1k?si… via YouTube

ICYMI - A blog on five key ideas from my new book, Primary Reading Simplified (out now on Kindle and available for pre-order in paperback). (See next tweet for blog.)

This is probably the most important book that any primary teacher or leader will read. I know that’s a big statement & I don’t make it lightly. Reading it was bittersweet - I was so sad I didn’t have it when I started, but thrilled that the profession now does. Game changer.

Everyone who cares about reading in Scotland needs to read this report. I mean, it was on the national evening news. Where is the robust debate, the discussion... even some sort of reaction? 'It falls so dead.' William James

Teachers in Scotland: Did you use Active Literacy or Reading Recovery today? You might want to sit down before you read this. Northern Ireland reviews controversial teaching method after failings in Wales and Scotland p.s. this is not your fault itv.com/news/2025-02-0…

ICYMI: We've been looking in to the way reading is taught in early years in Wales and across the UK 👇🧵 itv.com/news/2025-02-0…

Another excellent report from Rhys Williams﮷, a well-informed journalist who is revealing a major cause of widespread, preventable reading difficulties in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Great to see Geraldine Millar and DyslexiaScience (Gillian Evans, PhD) who keep on keeping on. Things are changing

*NEW* Making Retrieval Practice Actually Work: Seven Essential Principles for Teachers to Know - link below ⬇️

It's half term, which means I have a copy of Primary Reading Simplified to give away. Simply *retweet* this tweet for your chance to win. I will choose a winner at random this Saturday (22nd February).

School leaders working to turn around failing schools do one of the hardest jobs in education. It's astonishing really, as they "build the plane while flying it." That doesn't mean their decisions are unquestionable, but if you've never worked in that context you should show

Excellent news that Wales will be taking part in TIMMS and PIRLS from 2027. Well done Welsh Government Education and Lynne Neagle. 👏🏻

What an honour to have the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of education in Northern Ireland.

Going to blog but here’s a 🧵 There are too many distractions from the sustained hard work needed to deliver and maintain effective PD programmes that lead to improved teaching and improved outcomes. And I worry that just as we’re making progress, more distractions are coming

The power of a knowledge-rich art curriculum! These are beautiful - well done to Year 6 Elm C of E Primary School !

Really proud to be part of this excellent programme

Exclusive: A member of the Welsh Government’s expert literacy panel has resigned, warning the new £8.2m national programme to improve reading is “flawed” and “not fit for purpose”. Full story below 🧵 1/

Read to, and with, your children. Don’t let anyone paid to teach your child tell you, ‘They’ve got plenty of time before they need to start.’ Age-appropriate introduction to text is vital to later-years proficiency.

Wales' schools watchdog has announced today it will have a three year "enhanced focus on reading" from September 2026. Read more here: estyn.gov.wales/reading-for-le…

Estyn, please see my blog from 4 years ago showing how seriously flawed your 'English language and literacy in settings and primary schools' report is. As a result, there is no confidence in your capability to support and improve reading in Wales. 15mpln.blogspot.com/2021/12/guest-…