Reading engagement, stamina and comprehension levels raised thanks to Reading Plus

Matt Paterson, Deputy Head from Shears Green Junior School, shares with us how Reading Plus has increased engagement levels, informed teacher assessments, and expanded pupils’ general knowledge.

Why were your school looking for a reading development programme?

We wanted an interactive way to engage our children with reading that would also develop their reading stamina and comprehension.

We were using [another popular reading programme] but only in Years 5 and 6. Engagement levels were low as children were very demotivated after taking part and never moving onto a higher-level book.

Why Reading Plus?

Firstly, we visited another school that embedded Reading Plus within the curriculum. We were captivated by the levels of engagement and how much enjoyment the children had from using the programme.

Following a free four-week pilot of Reading Plus, we could see the impact the programme had on the level of reading comprehension and stamina of our children in such a short space of time.

How did you find the implementation process?

The implementation was simple, our Reading Consultant Steve was a great source of support and provided appropriate training to support all staff.

Emma from the Customer Support Team has been very helpful – the service we have been provided exceeded our expectations and has accommodated all our needs.

Data that supports good teaching first

The reports are amazing and act as a very good guide to inform teacher assessment. The level children are operating at on Reading Plus also matches with what they achieve in standardised tests.

Opening up the world through text

Children really enjoy using Reading Plus. They especially enjoy the wide range of texts expanding their general knowledge and learning new things. The children are motivated to get streaks and move themselves to the next level.

Parents also really appreciate having it as a tool to support their children at home.