Reading and writing: one hour each day

Government wants daily "literacy hour"

The announcement comes on the same day as the publication of an international study which shows that nine year olds in England have not achieved the same standards as their contemporaries in other countries. The education minister, Estelle Morris, speaking at a conference in London, said she was asking National Curriculum advisors to prepare guidance on how schools could provide a "sharper focus" on literacy, as well as numeracy.

But Ms Morris also stressed that no statutory changes to the National Curriculum would be made before the year 2000.

Labour's ambitious plans for education are well-known. Within five years, the government aims to raise the proportion of 11 year olds reaching expected standards from 57% to 80% in English and from 55% to 75% in Maths. The basics, Ms Morris asserted, were "the foundation for all the education which follows".

Teachers' leaders claim that they want to devote more time to reading, writing and mathematics. But they argue that more time spent on these subjects would be at the expense of something else. Doug McAvoy, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said that while guidnace would be welcome, "teachers do not wish to see a return to the bad old days of imposition from the centre, ignoring their professional judgement."

Ms Morris said that by maintaining stability in the curriculum, the government was fulfilling its pledge to teachers. She added that the government's standards were already being met in some schools, and that a partnership with teachers, education authorities and parents could ensure they were met elsewhere.