A structured literacy advocate says testing needs to be an important part of teaching.

A report by the Ministerial Advisory Group reviewing English and maths learning has recommended annual checkpoint tests for students.

It also recommends children be encouraged to write by hand as much as possible for their first three years at school and handwriting lessons in years four to six.

Lifting Literacy Aotearoa chair Alice Wilson says the assessments being talked about are not meant to be stressful.

"We need assessments that are providing the right kind of information into the teaching process - and that's what's being talked about." 

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