Primary Secondary Sixth Form

Becoming Independent Readers

10 Mar

The reading programme at Eastbrook involves both 1:1 and small group interventions to help our students to be confident and independent readers. Throughout the last year some of our children have made incredible progress and have become more confident and engaged with reading and throughout all aspects of their time at school.


What are the interventions? 

The interventions are carried out by members of staff trained by BDSIP. The two interventions include the 1:1 intervention: Literacy skills for secondary (LSFS) and the small group intervention: Developing reading for pleasure (DRP).

  • Literacy skills for secondary students is a 30-minute 1:1 intervention, 4 times a week. The intervention focuses on developing the students’ reading accuracy and comprehension by focusing on phonics, literacy skills (e.g. sentence structure / blending) and writing. 
  • Developing reading for pleasure is a 30-minute small group intervention, 3 times a week. The intervention focuses on reading comprehension and independent reading and thought. Intervention allows children to discuss debate and come up with their own ideas on the texts that they read together.  
     

What progress has been made?

All students that have started the 1:1 intervention have made incredible progress. An example of this is a Pupil in Year 7. Before the intervention the pupil was unable to read most text unassisted. They were able to read a level 3 book (reading age 4). After just 14 weeks of the programme, they are now able to independently read a level 11 book (reading age 6), making more and more progress every session. They are just one of the many students here at Eastbrook who have shown incredible progress with this intervention.


Wider Impact 

We have received feedback from members of staff throughout the school and parents on the impact of the programme, stating that it has improved:

  • Confidence in lesson
  • Conversational ability
  • Independence in class and at home
     

We in the SEND department love to watch all our students progress and improve every single day. We are PROUD of them all.