Responding to today's KS1 and phonics results, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “While we should be very wary of reading too much into one set of results, the headline increases are a testament to the efforts of schools up and down the country.

"Despite the government’s failure to properly back them with the resources they need, teachers and leaders have been working incredibly hard to support the pandemic recovery.

“It is of course positive to see the overall results of the phonics screening beginning to return closer to pre-pandemic levels. Phonological awareness is a crucial part of learning to read. However, we must remember that the test itself tells teachers little that they won’t already know through their day-to-day assessment of pupils’ learning.”