Ministers want children to enjoy all lessons

Its report said standards achieved by 11-year-olds had risen last year after a four-year plateau.

But schools were struggling with the wider aims of excellent teaching and enjoyment of learning in all lessons.

Teachers' subject knowledge was not good enough and schools' use of pupil assessments was weak, it said.

Anxiety

Schools supported the government's vision. But few had embraced this confidently by restructuring the curriculum or the way learning was organised.

Some were unsure how to do so.

"Many head teachers are anxious not to lose the gains they have already made through the national literacy and numeracy strategies," Ofsted said.

It noted that 78% of pupils now reached Level 4 or above in English and 74% in mathematics - the level expected for their age at the end of primary schooling.

The chief inspector, David Bell, said: "There have been significant improvements in literacy and numeracy standards since the introduction of the national strategies. This is something that must be applauded."

But his inspectors had found that some teachers still did not have the subject knowledge they needed to raise attainment further.

Limited opportunities for training in science, RE and other subjects had "taken their toll on teachers' subject knowledge".

This was frequently seen in "basic mistakes in terminology, inappropriate use of resources and misunderstandings about the subject, for example in music and science."

There are still schools where children are not receiving the daily diet of good teaching that they need Ofsted chief David Bell

Children's work in the daily literacy hour was not always linked to what they were doing in other subjects.

Schools were collecting more information about pupils, but not always using it to target children's needs effectively. Assessment was a continuing weakness in all subjects.

Both these factors can result in poor targeting of intervention strategies. Mr Bell said: "There are still schools where children are not receiving the daily diet of good teaching that they need in order to raise achievement further."

In response, Schools Minister Derek Twigg looked forward to the publication on Wednesday of a White Paper on 14 to 19 education.

He said it would "build on the success at primary level to ensure that English and maths - the two core skills - are at the core of the curriculum from four into the heart of secondary education."

The shadow education secretary, Tim Collins, said: "The fact that at least one in three primary pupils go on to their senior school without being able to write properly is one of the single biggest failings of eight years of Labour government."

He added: "Conservatives will ensure parents have the choice of sending their children to schools where traditional approaches to literacy have been adopted."