New Literacy Programme to Help Thousands of Children in Wales Learn to Read

In early education to build strong basic reading and communication skills is crucial for children as it opens new ways of success in school and later in life. In line with this, a new project worth £8.2 million has started in Wales, which solely focuses on improving the reading and language skills of children aged 3 to 16. The project is funded by the Welsh Government and implemented by the newly created Centre for the Advancement of Literacy. Moreover, experts from the University of York will play a key role in creating and delivering the programme to bring their expertise to a national initiative with the goal of enhancing literacy levels nationwide.

Bangor University, in Wales, is spearheading the development of the centre under a collaborative university research framework with many other UK institutions, such as the University of York, Oxford Education & Assessment, Swansea University, University College London, and Book Trust Cymru. The project will be developing on earlier successful educational development projects and expanding them into a new bilingual scheme and materials in Welsh and English.

This team will be guiding the development and dissemination of professional learning materials focused on literacy development and teaching practice. The materials are being developed for practitioners within primary and secondary schools and initial teacher education. The contribution from the university will be led by Dr Cameron Downing, lecturer in the Department of Education.

Dr Downing explained that the project is part of the broader agenda of doing public good through the university, in closing attainment gaps and widening the opportunity for access. According to him, the project offers a significant opportunity for collaboration with Bangor University and other partners to drive national change in terms of children's literacy in Wales. It is anticipated that educators nationwide will derive benefit from bilingual training modules, classroom schemes, and available assessment materials that guarantee long-term benefits for children.

The literacy centre, CAL: ON Cymru, anticipates working towards some main goals:

• Delivering bilingual training modules on the main subjects in phonics and reading accuracy in line with the Curriculum for Wales.

• Providing whole-class literacy interventions and programs to children aged 3 to 16 years, hence facilitating early childhood education and subsequent learning stages progress.

• Provision of bilingual assessment resources to cater for significant points of transition in a child's learning journey.

These initiatives are planned in order to ensure that all the literacy programs in Wales are grounded in quality research and best practice. The centre will draw on the report of the Welsh Government's Literacy Expert Panel to inform all of its activities. According to statements by Lynne Neagle, Cabinet Secretary for Education, the CAL: ON Cymru centre would be a professional learning hub at a national level, ensuring literacy standards are in line with the latest evidence of children learning to read. The value placed upon ongoing provision of quality training and supporting the education workforce in Wales underpins the government's commitment to teacher education and literacy development.

This project showcases the part played by government funding in literacy programs throughout the UK and the role played by higher education in the UK in supporting primary education research and agendas in terms of national policy. This is also meant to show how UK universities help improve children's literacy through strategic partnerships and evidence-based practice. The Bangor University and University of York Literacy Project is an exemplar of collaborative higher education research tackling a common educational issue while accessing expertise from throughout the UK. With their amalgamation of various resources, capacities for knowledge, and institutional expertise, it hopes to make a profound difference to pupils, teachers, and communities in Wales. Anticipated impacts for more than 3000 pupils in 240 schools, the long-term aspiration is to improve the literacy achievement of each child in Wales.

Editor’s Note:

CAL: ON Cymru, an £8.2 million initiative, represents a significant and commendable stride towards addressing one of education's most enduring challenges. It aims to equip every child with the essential literacy skills needed to embark on a journey of lifelong learning and opportunity, irrespective of their background.

CAL: ON Cymru is an exemplary program, distinguished not only by its scope but by its strategic design. It fosters collaboration between strong institutions like Bangor University, the University of York, and other UK partners under a unified research framework. This initiative showcases how higher education can effectively serve the public good through evidence-based interventions, leading to the development of integrated bilingual resources and a significant Curriculum for Wales footprint.

Under the guidance of Dr Cameron Downing, the University of York's contribution highlights universities as more than just research hubs; they are active participants directly shaping classroom practices and professional development. The program's focus on teacher education, particularly whole-class interventions, is noteworthy, recognising that empowering trainers is key to achieving significant change. This is not a peripheral pilot but a national literacy strategy with the potential to transform outcomes for thousands of pupils across Wales. The Welsh government's investment underscores a clear message: literacy is a fundamental necessity, not a luxury, and closing attainment gaps demands sustained, collaborative efforts.

As per Skoobuzz, in an era of widening educational disparities, CAL: ON Cymru stands as a testament to the powerful synergy that emerges when policy, research, and practice converge. It is a project that merits attention, support, and, crucially, replication.

FAQs

1. What is the Centre for the Advancement of Literacy, and who is leading it?

The Centre for the Advancement of Literacy is a new national initiative funded by the Welsh Government, led by Bangor University in collaboration with the University of York and other UK institutions. It aims to improve literacy outcomes for children aged 3 to 16 across Wales.

2. How is the University of York contributing to children’s literacy in Wales? 

Researchers from the University of York are developing bilingual professional learning materials and literacy teaching resources for educators in primary, secondary, and initial teacher education settings. Their work supports the national goal of closing attainment gaps and improving literacy standards.

3. What are the main goals of the CAL: ON Cymru literacy centre?

CAL: ON Cymru focuses on delivering bilingual training modules in phonics and reading fluency, providing whole-class literacy programmes for ages 3–16, and introducing assessment tools for key educational transition points, all aligned with the Curriculum for Wales.

4. Which UK universities are involved in the £8.2 million literacy project?

The project involves Bangor University, University of York, Oxford Education & Assessment, Swansea University, University College London, and Book Trust Cymru, forming a collaborative research network to scale up successful educational development projects.

5. How does this literacy initiative support teacher education in Wales?

The programme offers bilingual professional development modules and classroom resources designed to strengthen literacy teaching practice. These materials are intended for current educators and those in initial teacher training, supporting long-term improvements in teaching quality.