IOE Insights
IOE Insights
UCL Institute of Education
Bringing balance to the 'reading wars' debate | The Staffroom
54 minutes Posted Nov 7, 2025 at 6:00 am.
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A holistic view of how phonics, writing, reading and language come together to make a child truly literate.

Dominic Wyse and Charlotte Hacking tell Mark and Elaine about the "double helix" of reading and writing, an approach that combines phonics teaching with engaging reading and writing activities.

They chat about the importance of creating a balance – between fostering a child's early love for reading, and supporting children's ability to read through technical elements like phonics.

Full show notes: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2025/nov/bringing-balance-reading-wars-debate-staffroom-s06e01