The bottom up approach to improving schools

hunt I fully agree reading is key to opening opportunities to other learning and needs to be a priority but there are many other important skills needed too. A child with poor language skills, poor social skills etc won't be able to use the reading well enough to learn other things!

I think it is interesting, but it doesn't perhaps reflect how much has been done in the UK to support teachers in improving the quality of teaching. I think if the real problem is the gap in achievement between rich and poor (broadly speaking) then maybe you have to look outside schools for solutions. I also think that attitudes to schools, based largely on the tabloid press, are very damaging to the morale of teachers.

Concentrate on teaching children to read. You can't progress with any other learning until you can read. Reading opens the door to everything else. Think about it.