Sir Julian Lewis: Does the Secretary of State accept that the use of phonics as the basis of teaching reading has been thoroughly vindicated?

[The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson): I do accept the absolutely essential role of phonics – it was a Labour Government who first started the roll-out of phonics in 2006. We need all our children to reach a brilliant standard in reading, but as I have just said, one in four currently do not meet the required standard. There is so much more that we need to do to ensure that all our children get a firm foundation in those subjects and, yes, enjoy reading as well.]