Website: www.ukla.org
President: Alayne Öztürk: alayneozturk@gmail.com;
IDEC representative: Sue Ellis, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow UK sue.ellis@strath.ac.uk
Forthcoming conferences
- Tuesday 27th March: Wider Reading and Reading for Pleasure London: British Library
- 6th – 8th July: Crossing Places: Literacy, Life and School Leicester: University of Leicester
UKLA was founded in 1963 as the United Kingdom Reading Association. In 2003 it changed its name to the United Kingdom Literacy Association, to reflect more accurately its wide range of concerns. UKLA seeks, through education and advocacy, to promote good practice and research in language and literacy teaching, and to promote dialogue between the teaching, research and policy communities in order to support the development of good practice and policy.
UKLA runs an annual International Conference as well as National and Regional conferences and seminars. UKLA has several task groups responding to policy issues, and it has sub-committees promoting research, international relations, publications, conferences and awards. It has a strong publications section, with two refereed journals Literacy and Journal of Research in Reading. It also publishes English 4-11 (jointly with The English Association) and many books, position papers and practice and planning guides. Details of all this can be seen on the website.
In July 2010 UKLA ran a highly successful International Conference in Chester, England. Its Task Group on Phonics (Led by Henrietta Dombey) produced a position paper and ‘Fact Cards’ to educate politicians and others about the English government’s phonics policy. It has also produced useful Continuing Professional Development packs (Raising Standards through Innovations in English teaching) and several ‘Research in Practice’ books (Reading on Screen Research Report) as well as a two publications in the ‘Ideas in Practice’ series, Planning for Innovation in English Teaching and Teaching Writing Effectively: Reviewing practice.
The next International Conference will be on 6-8 July 2012 at University of Leicester – a wonderful city close to some of the most beautiful countryside in England.