PRIMARY schools in Warrington are being told to apply for funding to buy equipment aimed at helping children to read and write.

The Department for Education has said that any primary school can apply for up to £3,000 to improve the teaching of phonics – the sounds of letters and how they combine to make words.

Schools can spend the money on training staff and buying classroom aids and equipment.

Nick Gibb, schools minister, said: “This an open invitation to all schools to improve the way they teach systematic synthetic phonics – the tried and tested method that will improve the reading of all our children, especially the weakest.

“All six-year-olds will be checked on their phonics next summer and I would like to see all schools in a strong position so their pupils are receiving the solid grounding they need as soon as possible, so they develop into confident, fluent readers.”

The DfE says that nearly 2,500 schools have applied for the funding nationwide, but Warrington Borough Council could not say if any had yet done so in the town.

A spokesman for the council said: “Warrington Borough Council has delivered extensive training on the teaching of phonics using the letters and sounds materials, developed by the DfE, which has a direct impact on the high standards achieved by Warrington children in reading and writing.”