Reading Intervention Programmes
At our school, we are committed to ensuring that every child develops the reading skills, confidence and enjoyment they need to become a successful reader. We recognise that children may need additional support for a range of reasons, including gaps in phonics knowledge, difficulties with fluency or comprehension, being new to English, or not yet reading at age-related expectations. Our reading intervention programmes provide targeted support alongside high-quality classroom teaching, with progress regularly monitored so that provision can be adapted to meet individual needs.
Key Stage Two Phonics Interventions
In Key Stage 2, children who did not pass the Phonics Screening Check retakes or who have identified gaps in their phonics knowledge, receive intensive phonics sessions. This support is also particularly important for children who are new to English and may need additional time to develop their phonological awareness, decoding and word-reading skills. Sessions are carefully targeted and regularly monitored through assessment to ensure that children are making accelerated progress and that teaching responds to their individual gaps. The aim is to secure the essential foundations of reading so that children can become increasingly fluent, confident and independent readers.
Reading Plus
All children in key stage two have access to Reading Plus, an online, personalised reading programme from Discovery Education. Reading Plus uses an adaptive assessment to identify individual strengths and areas for development, creating a personalised learning pathway for each child. The programme develops silent reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary and reading motivation, with texts adapted to each child's reading ability and interests. Teachers can use the programme's detailed assessment and progress information to monitor children's development and identify where additional support may be required. Reading Plus also provides a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts, allowing children to broaden their knowledge, develop reading stamina and experience success with appropriately challenging material. It encourages children to reread the text they are answering questions on. Reading Plus is used in English lessons with some children receiving extra sessions to help them make accelerated progress. It also offers a 'visual skills' programme to support those new to English or those significantly below age related expectations.
Early Morning Readers
Our Early Morning Readers programme provides an additional opportunity for children who are at risk of not meeting age-related expectations in reading. Selected children are invited into school 15 minutes early, where they read with an adult and have dedicated time to access Reading Plus. This additional, supportive reading time helps children build fluency, comprehension, confidence and positive reading habits. It also gives adults an opportunity to listen to children read, provide immediate feedback and celebrate their progress. By combining regular individual reading with personalised digital practice, we aim to give children the additional time, support and encouragement they need to make strong progress and develop a lifelong love of reading.
Bookmark Reading
We are also proud to partner with Bookmark Reading, a charity that connects children with trained reading volunteers. Through an online reading platform, selected children have the opportunity to read with a volunteer twice each week, providing valuable additional time to practise their reading skills in a supportive and encouraging environment. These sessions give children regular opportunities to read aloud, develop fluency and comprehension, build confidence and experience the enjoyment of sharing a book with an adult. This partnership helps us to provide additional reading opportunities for children who may benefit from more frequent, individualised reading support.