CHILDREN who struggle with the three Rs could receive intensive one-to-one lessons to help them catch up, under moves to be announced by ministers.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson is planning to introduce new targets for schools to based on the progress made by individual children, in an attempt to make sure that all pupils improve.

Detailed plans are expected on Monday, just days ahead of new figures which will show that over half of teenagers are failing to get five C grades in GCSE subjects including English and maths.

The Government has already told schools they must concentrate on the brightest pupils to make sure they fulfil their potential and ministers are now expected to focus on children who fall behind.

Teachers welcomed the plan for catch-up classes.

Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "One-to-one support for pupils who are struggling will make an enormous difference.

"The concept is crucial to ensuring the progress of those children having the greatest difficulty."

He said the lessons must be given by qualified teachers and added that all youngsters who needed the help - not just those from poor backgrounds - should receive the extra lessons.

The Government's announcements are expected in response to a major report last week on the future of teaching in English state schools.

Christine Gilbert, now Ofsted's chief inspector, said education must be "personalised" for the needs of individual children if standards are to rise.

Currently targets focus on the percentages of pupils in schools achieving, for example, five C grades at GCSE.

But Mr Johnson has already hinted that he is minded to change the system to focus on the progress of individual children. Tweet