Literacy and Numeracy

Literacy focuses on promoting and developing each child's ability to understand and use language as an integral part of the learning process across all areas of the curriculum.  This emphasis enables pupils to interact effectively with the world around them, to express themselves creatively and to communicate confidently using a variety of skills and media.  

Numeracy enables pupils to apply mathematics across the curriculum and in real life situations.  Skills in numeracy should help our young people to make informed and responsible choices and decisions throughout their lives.

Developing literacy and numeracy therefore must be central elements of a school's delivery of the revised curriculum.

The Department launched the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, Count, read:succeed in March 2011.  The aims of the Strategy are to

• support teachers and school leaders in their work to raise overall levels of attainment in literacy and numeracy among young people; and
• narrow the current gaps in educational outcomes.