The draft report by former OFSTED Inspector Jim Rose into the teaching of reading has predictably stirred up a hornets’ nest. However, those who produce synthetic phonics programmes have greeted his support with glee. Harcourt Education have already acquired the rights to the synthetic phonics programme developed by Dr Rhona Johnston of St Andrew’s University, as used with 300 children in eight schools over four years in Clackmannanshire. In September, we wrote that Read Write Inc was probably a tempting target for publishers and after this report it looks like we might have been right.

• www.harcourteducation.co.uk

• www.ruthmiskinliteracy.com