Phonics testing to be mandatory for 5 year olds next year

Checkpoint

Schools will be required to test the ability of year 1 students to link sounds and letters at 20 and 40 weeks of schooling. From years 3 to 8, schools will have to test children's reading, writing and maths twice a year. Professor Jae Major, Senior lecturer at Canterbury University's School of Education speaks to Susana Lei'ataua.