Children must be free to read for fun

We are writers and artists who produce books for children. In our view, the proposed draft primary English curriculum, the phonics screening check at the end of year 1, and the new spelling, punctuation and grammar test at the end of year 6 pose a threat to reading for pleasure in primary schools. The recent Ofsted report Moving English Forward made a specific recommendation to the government that it call on all schools to develop policies on reading for enjoyment. To date, there has been no such move by government. On the other hand, millions are being spent on systematic synthetic phonics programmes and training, subsidised by the government, although there is no evidence that such programmes help children understand what they are reading. As a result, more school time will be devoted to reading as an academic, test-driven exercise; less time will be available for reading and writing for enjoyment. We deplore this state of affairs and consider that the quality of children's school lives is about to be altered for the worse. We call on the government to implement the Ofsted recommendation on reading for pleasure, to withdraw the phonics screening check and the spelling, punctuation and grammar test, and to reinstate mixed methods of initial reading methods (which include "basic phonics" and real books). Michael Rosen Ed Wicke Anne Rooney Alan Gibbons Jeremy Strong Philip Reeve Bernard Ashley Sue Purkiss Anne Cassidy Eileen Browne Denis Bond Dennis Hamley Tanya Landman Bali Rai Nick Arnold Anna Perera Bernard Ashley Sue Purkiss Eugenie Summerfield Malachy Doyle Philip Gross Vivian French Andrew Taylor Angela Topping Linda Newbery Tommy Donbavand Miriam Moss Damian Harvey Dawn Finch John Dougherty Harriet Castor David Sinden John Shelley Tony Mitton Meg Rosoff Joe Friedman Jamila Gavin Lynne Benton Jenny Vaughan Bob and Brenda Swindells Andy Seed Ann Bryant Philip Ardagh Harriet Goodwin Steve Weatherill Antony Lishak Pauline Fisk Cathy Brett Catherine Johnson Dr Jenny Sullivan Dr Lydia Syson John Masson Chris Connaughton Jay Humphrey AF Harrold Seamus Gibbons Ian McLaughlin Oisin McGann Liz Monahan Si Smith Daniel Blythe Charlotte Guillain Adam Guillain Steve Bowkett Tamsyn Murray Gwen Grant Heather Dyer Mary Hoffman Caroline Pitcher Katherine Langrish Ann Jungman Chris Chivers Matthew Morgan Kelly McCain Anthony McGowan Moira Butterfield Sara Sheridan Chris De Cordova Cathy Butler Nick Ward Steve Lowe Theresa Tomlinson Alison Leonard Steve Skidmore Katy Maryon Steve Feasey Maeve Friel Helen Bromley Brian Redsea Simon Packham Jo Cotterill Brian Moses