Mrs Tweddle, Year 6 teacher and Key Stage 2 Lead at Newham Bridge Primary, shares the school’s successful journey of enhancing pupils’ fluent reading while preparing for SATs using Reading Plus.
Mrs Tweddle also explores how Reading Plus has improved pupils’ confidence and reading for pleasure, sharing insights from Year 6 pupil Jake.
Read as she details her favourite features of our online reading development programme, how they are useful, and the impact it has made on transforming her pupils’ reading attainment.
Why were you looking for reading support?
Pupils struggled with reading fluency, so we were looking for a programme to help develop this. Reading Plus is rooted in silent reading fluency, so we implemented it in school. We also found the diverse range of texts and the programme’s versatility and adaptability to be a perfect fit for our pupils.
Y6 children use Reading Plus first thing in the morning, accessing it daily from 8.40-9.10 am.
What are your favourite features of the programme?
- The programme’s ability to expose children to a wide range of texts expands their vocabulary for application in reading and writing. The exposure to a broader range of texts likely contributed to an overall improvement in general knowledge among pupils.
- The InSight feature, which provides an initial baseline, proved invaluable. It facilitated clear assignment setting and immediate progress measurement. The accessibility of the data from Reading Plus allowed us to cross-reference with other reading programmes and ensure children were getting the right intervention in all areas.
- The impact of being able to change the settings to customised individual assignments played a pivotal role in unlocking each child’s potential.
- I particularly appreciate the ease of Reading Plus’s tracking data and progress. The reporting data became a guiding tool for teaching. We could set up targeted interventions and adjust assignments for the children throughout the year based on their individual needs.
- Another aspect of this was the ability to provide personalised feedback to pupils on a one-to-one basis to demonstrate where they need to improve, e.g. using ReReads or slowing their independent reading rate down, etc.
What impact has Reading Plus had on developing fluent reading, stamina and confidence?
The school maintained good reading levels, with noticeable improvements in reading pace. We observed an impact on pupils’ fluency, stamina and confidence – especially in assessments such as the KS2 Reading SATs where improvements were reflected.
Pupils actively shared their enthusiasm for the texts and informed their peers about them.
How have struggling readers been supported?
Reading Plus benefitted lower attainers by enhancing their visual skills and vocabulary, and providing crucial support for pupils who needed it the most.
It has also been great at engaging reluctant readers such as Year 6 pupil Jake.
Y6 pupil Jake Fawcett shares:
“Before Reading Plus, I did not enjoy reading. I read at home, but it was not something I liked doing. Now I really enjoy using the programme. I like that you can read online and use it at home and school. My favourite thing about Reading Plus is that it allows you to discover new texts. Reading Plus made me feel more confident, especially when doing my SATs. I think the programme is mint. I’d love to continue with Reading Plus in secondary school if I could. It’s been a game changer for me.”
Book a brief introductory meeting online with one of our Reading Development Consultants to explore the advantages of Reading Plus for your school. We also offer a free four-week pilot so you can see the impact on your pupils.
Call:
0191 389 6078 (option 1)
Email:
info@readingsolutionsuk.com