Study finds England's trainee teachers excel in early reading instruction
A new study led by Dr. Johny Daniel from our top-ranked School of Education has found that trainee teachers in England are significantly better prepared to teach early reading skills compared to their counterparts in India, particularly in phonics instruction. The results are in Education Sciences.
Phonics training
The research suggests that England's structured approach to literacy education, underpinned by a prescriptive phonics framework, has given future educators a strong foundation in teaching young readers.
The study surveyed trainee teachers from multiple universities and revealed that England's rigorous Systematic Synthetic Phonics approach has led to a higher level of preparedness among new teachers.
This method, closely monitored by Ofsted, ensures that trainees develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in phonics instruction, which is crucial for early literacy development.
Comprehension strategies
Beyond phonics, English trainee teachers demonstrated notable proficiency in evidence-based reading comprehension strategies, including summarization and prediction.
These skills are essential for helping children engage with and understand texts, ultimately improving overall literacy rates.
The study also highlighted the positive impact of the Department for Education's comprehensive reading framework, released in July 2023.
The framework not only supports phonics instruction but also promotes fluency and comprehension, helping teachers develop well-rounded reading strategies in the classroom.
Vocabulary teaching
Despite these strengths, the research identified a gap in teacher preparation: vocabulary instruction.
Both English and Indian trainee teachers showed relatively low confidence in teaching vocabulary, a fundamental skill for helping pupils grasp the meaning of texts.
The study underscores the importance of continued investment in teacher training to ensure that all children, regardless of background, receive a strong start in literacy.
Experts suggest that providing clearer guidance on vocabulary teaching within national education policies could further strengthen England's already robust teacher preparation framework.
More information: Johny Daniel et al, A Comparative Analysis of Preservice Teachers' Knowledge of Reading Instruction and Their Confidence in Supporting Struggling Readers: A Study of India and England, Education Sciences (2025).
Provided by Durham University
