The Education Minister, Paul Givan, has officially launched a new literacy framework designed for primary schools, with the goal of strengthening literacy practices across Northern Ireland.

The framework, titled Strong Foundations: A Literacy Framework for Primary Schools, was unveiled today at the TransformED Literacy Symposium. The Minister addressed a large audience that included school leaders, teachers, researchers, and policymakers during the event.

Paul Givan stressed the foundational importance of literacy in the modern world: "Literacy is at the heart of education and it must be our collective priority. In the 21st century, literacy remains the skill that unlocks opportunity and success. One of our greatest responsibilities is to ensure that every child can read and read well. That is why literacy reform is a central pillar of the TransformED Strategy."

While acknowledging that Northern Ireland performs well in reading in international studies, the Minister noted areas of concern: "There are global challenges in literacy, particularly a decline in adult literacy levels and reading for pleasure. Northern Ireland performs strongly in reading in international studies but there remain persistent attainment gaps linked to socio-economic disadvantage and gender that we must address." He affirmed that the new resource provides a clear direction for educators: "The framework which I am launching today sets out clear principles, practical strategies and evidence-based approaches to ensure every child develops strong literacy foundations."

Published alongside the main framework are key guidelines intended to underpin high-quality provision. The Guidelines to Support a Coherent Approach to Literacy Development offer schools a model for developing, reviewing, and planning their comprehensive, whole-school approach to literacy teaching.

Paul Givan concluded by stating the expected impact: "The new Literacy Framework together with the supporting Guidelines will provide clear and practical direction for strengthening teaching and learning in oracy, reading and writing and ensure all pupils develop strong literacy foundations by the end of primary education."

The TransformED Literacy Symposium attracted more than 500 educationalists from across Northern Ireland. The focus of the event was on the science of reading and the critical role of evidence-based practice, offering a platform for sharing knowledge, strengthening professional practice, and driving improvement in classrooms.

Contributors at the symposium included specialists from Northern Ireland and further afield, such as Dr Jennifer Buckingham OAM, Dr Jennifer O'Sullivan, Professor Jessie Ricketts, Maeve Savage, Ryon Leyshon, Dr Geraldine Magennis Clarke, and Emma Wills.

The new Literacy Framework for Primary Schools and the accompanying Guidelines to Support a Coherent Approach to Literacy Development are available on the Department of Education's website at www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/literacy-guidance.