Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen has said ministers are making a "big mistake" by not putting enough emphasis on reading for pleasure.

The author and poet – who wrote "We’re going on a bear hunt" – criticised a "tests and targets" culture.

Mr Rosen told the Evening Standard it was "absolutely tragic" that few teachers had time to foster a love of reading among pupils.

And he said the government’s attitude to education was "macho".

Ministers, he said, liked to "talk tough".

"They think what wins votes is if you appear on television with a great big truncheon in your hand and say, ‘We are going to bash teachers and kids’."

Michael and Frank
Michael Rosen says government policy is macho.

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