She was responding to claims that a majority of teachers believe the "literacy hour" is failing the most able pupils and those with special educational needs.

The Shadow Education Secretary, David Willetts, raised the issue during education questions in the House of Commons.

He said a recent survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) showed that 80% of teachers believed the literacy hour was not helping pupils with special educational needs and 60% thought it was not helping specially gifted children.

'The bottom line'

Ms Morris replied: "Quite simply, you have to decide who you would prefer to believe. If you want to believe the evidence of the ATL and the teaching unions, you can do so.

"I would sooner believe the evidence of Ofsted...and independent research. They show that the literacy strategy works and it works for all children.

"That's the bottom line. It's not necessarily about what teachers think, it's about what evidence shows works with pupils.

"The evidence shows that all children - no matter whether they were the most able or whether they were children with special needs - made progress under the National Literacy Strategy."