PUPILS at a Somerset primary school has received praise from a government minister for their excellent reading skills – which put them in the top 5% in the country.

Huish Episcopi Primary School has been recognised for results in phonics tests in a letter from The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, Minister of State for Schools (Con, East Hampshire).

The letter, which was received earlier this month, recognises the significant number of children who passed their phonics test placing the school in the top 5% of the country.

Systematic phonics is the recommended strategy for teaching children to read and write.

Phonics testing takes place in all state schools in the country in Year 1, when children are five to six years old.

Tiffany Doughty Davis, headteacher, said: “We are delighted with the progress and results of our phonics.

“This means that children are in the best place possible to progress with their learning in all subjects.

“We place great emphasis on children learning to read from the first day they start with us in Reception in September.

“Our children go on to receive fantastic results and show great progress across all statutory testing following a broad, fun and ambitious curriculum.

“There is no secret to our success, it’s down to the efforts of our families, staff and children all working together.”

The school has previously received recognition for their results in KS2 which were also placed in the top 5% nationally.

Huish Episcopi Primary School, part of Preston Primary Academy Trust, came seventeenth in the county for their KS2 results this year out of around 300 schools.