The Government has announced new standardised testing for students from the first year of school. Education Minister Erica Stanford said from next year, five year olds will be tested on phonics - how well they can read words by sounding out letters - with tests at 20 weeks and 40 weeks of schooling. The government has also mandated twice-yearly "progression monitoring" for reading, writing and maths, for children in years three to eight. The Education Minister Erica Stanford spoke to Charlotte Cook.