AQW 48658/22-27
Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford
Tabled Date: 15/06/2026
Answered On Date: 30/06/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on (i) the action contained within his TransformED Delivery plan to develop new strategies for literacy and numeracy based on international best practice, to foster children’s mastery of both literacy and numeracy at primary school which will enhance later learning and support both equity and attainment; and (ii) any cost incurred as a result of this action.
Answer:
The First Annual Progress Report and Updated Delivery Plan (May 2026) sets out the Department’s updated position on this action. The Department has published Strong Foundations: A Literacy Framework for Primary Schools, providing evidencebased guidance to strengthen oracy, reading and writing across primary schools in Northern Ireland. A Literacy Framework for Irishmedium education is also being developed and is due to be published by December 2026. A numeracy framework is being developed to provide clear, evidenceinformed guidance that strengthens coherence, progression and consistency in numeracy from Foundation Stage to Key Stage 3. It is due to be published by September 2026. Building on this work, the Department will develop new literacy and numeracy strategies. The draft Literacy Strategy is due by September 2026 and the draft Numeracy Strategy by December 2026. The strategies will set out support for schools, including resources, teacher professional learning and assessment, and will form part of the wider package of support being developed to deliver coherent, system-wide curriculum reform through the TransformED programme. To date, approximately £25,000 has been incurred in relation to development of the frameworks.
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