39717 (2024). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister of Education

39717 (2024). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister of Education: Does the Minister agree with literacy expert, Yolanda Soryl that structured literacy and reading recovery go "hand in hand"; if not, why not?

Hon Erica Stanford: I agree that structured literacy and additional targeted support for students who need it go hand in hand. I do not agree that Reading Recovery as currently based around the three-cuing approach is the best possible support for these students. Students will benefit most from a cohesive programme of universal, targeted and tailored supports. These will reinforce and extend the structured literacy teaching students will be receiving every day in their classrooms. Evidence shows, as Yolanda Soryl notes, that structured literacy approaches are most likely to reverse the declining achievement we have seen over many years.