The Welsh Office has announced a fundamental review of the way children are to be taught in primary schools.

But unlike England, where schools will be allowed to concentrate on the basics from next summer, teaching in Wales will not be changed until a period of consultation is carried out.

The changes include devoting more time to the teaching of the basic skills of literacy and numeracy, the so-called three R's.

Reading, writing, maths and science are, the Government believes, central to all learning.

Teachers have long complained they do not have time to concentrate on these core areas because the National Curriculum is too full.

Peter Hain is setting a tight schedule

The Welsh Office intends to talk to teachers about the best way forward.

The Welsh Education Minister, Peter Hain, spelled out his plans during a visit to a primary school in Tredegar on Tuesday.

"The principle of partnership and consultation is in all the changes that we make, including the very radical ones that we will be introducing to concentrate on basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic," he said.

"We want to do it in a way that makes sure that teachers have the burden lifted off them."

There is a tight timescale for the consultation - the minister expects the first report to be complete in March.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©