New teaching schemes to improve primary results

Two new schemes that aim to improve struggling children's grasp of the three Rs are due to be launched in England's primary schools, offering a new approach to teaching.

It is hoped that Every Child a Writer and Every Child Counts will follow the success of Every Child a Reader scheme in boosting the achievements of younger pupils.

The programmes - which are currently being piloted - are due to be rolled out across the country's schools by 2011.

They will allow children who are having difficulty with writing or maths to have dedicated one-to-one tuition with teachers.

One of the main aims of the schemes is to ensure that pupils from disadvantaged background are given a fair start.

"We cannot sit back and accept we can do no more to stop children falling behind year after year," stated schools secretary Ed Balls.

Junior children's minister Kevin Brennan recently thanked teachers for their help with key stage one results, but said that they should be improved year-on-year.