Pupils should have more time for literacy lessons, the report says

Pupils should also be tested every eight weeks to stop those from poor families falling behind, the Social Market Foundation think-tank says.

Meanwhile, the law limiting infant classes to 30 pupils should end to allow more "flexible" lessons and one-to-one tuition for some, it adds.

A government spokesman said "huge progress" was already being made.

'More literacy lessons'

The SMF warns that many children from poor homes learn more slowly at primary school, despite the government's Sure Start to improve nursery education.

Its report - called Fade or Flourish - recommends extending the daily literacy hour to 90 minutes to offset this.

It also calls for one-to-one reading lessons to be available from age five.

SMF director Ann Rossiter said: "Some primary schools are ensuring that disadvantaged children keep up with their peers, against the odds.

"But more needs to be done to support those schools and apply the lessons they are learning across the country."

The report backs Sure Start but says problems in primary schools are undermining the progress made by children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Its author, Claudia Wood, said the scheme was "hugely important" but added that "for some children an early boost just isn't enough".

The SMF looked at the work of the Kobi Nazrul Primary School in Tower Hamlets, east London, where 95% of the children do not speak English as their first language.

The school introduced a scheme for intensive literacy class, where pupils are placed in ability sets which last 90 minutes, and sit informal tests every half term.

Kobi Nazrul's test results have risen above national averages, with 85% of pupils reaching the expected ability level in English and maths last year.

A Department for Education and Skills spokesman said ministers would act on promises to make more use of "phonics" - blending letter sounds to form words - to teach literacy.

"Of course, it is also important that we prevent children from falling behind or help them catch up," the spokesman said.