Editorial.

The article presents information on the primary National Literacy Strategy (NLS) in England. The NLS, introduced in England in 1998, has had sustained funding for longer than any previous government-funded literacy initiative in this country. Over the years it has had millions of pounds of public funding. The NLS in 2004 is a different creature from the NLS in 1998. The message about the need for change and adaptation to suit the needs of a particular time and context apply just as much to the Strategy as they do to schools and the practice of individual teachers. Good literacy teaching is about a constant shifting dynamic that matches pedagogy, planning and assessment to the varying needs of learners as they develop their skills and expertise.