We caught up with E-Reading Coordinator Leanne Sayer from Ribbon Academy to hear about the impact of Reading Plus on pupils.
My name is Leanne Sayer and I am a teacher at Ribbon Academy in Durham. We are the largest primary school in Durham and one of our offers for children is Reading Plus. We use the programme from Year 3 to Year 6.
Why were you looking for a reading programme?
We needed something that was instantly available for the children during COVID-19. We implemented the programme during the first lockdown, wanting children to have access to high-quality texts and e able to change whatever books or text they wanted to read without having any problems changing books over at school because of the quarantine.
We wanted something where we could try and monitor their progress, as well as give parents the opportunity to see what the children could do independently, as well as with some support.
What were the reading levels before using Reading Plus?
Reading levels have generally been steady. Obviously, with COVID, nobody could predict what sort of hit it would take on the children, nor how many lockdowns and the wider impact it would have once we got back to school for children to progress.
Reading Plus has helped massively because the children are engaged, parents are engaged, and it’s something that we can do in school and at home, so we have seen an increase in their progress across the board.
What made you choose Reading Plus as a programme?
We carefully selected Reading Plus because we wanted something digital. We like that all the data is neat and tidy, and the programme is user-friendly. There’s not a lot that you need to research; just log on. It’s self-explanatory as a teacher when you can log on and see all the different areas.
The other reason we select Reading Plus is because if there is a particular area that the children are struggling in, the programme has lessons and resources that guide you to support either a child, a group of children or even the whole cohort.
Everything is already there, and as teachers, we don’t have a massive amount of time to do everything. What you need is there for you in the programme.
Do the children enjoy using Reading Plus?
The children enjoy it very, very much. It’s quite a big thing in our school. We don’t just offer rewards and prizes, but it’s the general ethos within the school for children to have their daily session of Reading Plus.
They enjoy it because there’s a choice; they get to monitor their own progress and choose the things they want to read or don’t want to read. Giving children choices is definitely a big bonus for them.
What results have you seen, and what impact has Reading Plus had on pupils in school?
The biggest impact at the moment would be their drive and their enthusiasm. Especially after the knock of Covid, even getting children back into school and into that routine has been challenging. Having something like Reading Plus for children to do settled them. Using the programme has given them stability, and they know they can take it home and show parents without panicking about “I can’t take a book home” because of Covid or any other reason.
The other impact it’s had is raising their vocabulary massively, which is quite big for a year six test. The vocabulary side of Reading Plus has improved their scores, knowledge, understanding, and ability to articulate it rather than just be written.
Do you see Reading Plus as a tool to support missed learning?
I see it as a tool for everything. I see a tool to help children, parents, teachers, and tackle missed learning, especially when you’ve got the programme’s guides and premade lessons. That means that if children struggle with inference, there is a lesson with a PowerPoint and resources that you can use instantly. It’s not a case of a teacher having to find anything or plan a lesson, and because it’s on the Reading Format, the children are familiar with it, so they feel comfortable and safe.