Balance between different approaches

Fierce debate about the best way to teach reading has led to polarisation of opinions and wholesale rejection of certain teaching methods by some educationists. Teachers and children have been caught in the cross-fire of these debates. Again, teachers' confidence has suffered.

Research findings indicate that different children have different ways of processing written language, and what works for many will not necessarily be suitable for all. There is also strong evidence that children are best helped by different strategies at different stages in development. Unless a variety of approaches is available, it is likely that many children will fail to achieve basic literacy.

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