Critically evaluate the extent to which the Literacy Hour enhances the teaching and learning of English as required by the National Curriculum for English.

Throughout this assignment I will be critically evaluating each part for the literacy hour highlighting the purpose and effectiveness of each section and how it interlinks with the National Curriculum concluding in whether the hour does actually enhance the learning and teaching of English. The introduction of a National Literacy Hour as part of the National Literacy Strategy (NLS) has been seen as a major reform to improve standards of literacy in primary schools in …

…Twenty minutes of the lesson is for independent work where pupils apply their literacy skills in meaningful tasks individually in pairs or in groups. The teacher works with small groups to improve specific skills through guided reading or writing. The final 10 minutes of the lesson is the plenary session which allows teachers and children to reflect on and assess what has been learnt and to think about how to develop what they have learnt further.