The Better Reading Partnership

The Better Reading Partnership was designed by members of the Bradford Language and Literacy team and is part of an integrated approach to raise levels of literacy achievement. The project involves the whole school community in helping children to become better readers.

School support staff, parents, community and business volunteers receive specialist training in order to become ‘reading partners’, providing focused support for identified children.

The Better Reading Partnership can offer three models:

Primary School model

Ø       Years 1-6, pupils who are operating at the class average, or just below

Ø       One to one additional reading support

Ø       Ten week programme 15 minute lesson, three times a week

Ø       Specific targeting is advised e.g. pupils who may achieve Level 4 at Key Stage 2 with additional support

Ø       Standardised assessment is used and shows pupils gain an average of six months after a 10 week programme

 Ø    Supports language acquisition and the development of academic language

Ø       Enhances Reading Partner’s skills to support the extension of pupils thinking and questioning skills

After the ten week programme a Year One pupil said: ‘I can now read better and the stories are not so boring. I look at the picture and the letters to work out words when I am stuck. If it doesn’t make sense I go back and read it again’

Secondary School model

Ø       Years 7-10, pupils who have a reading age two/three years below their chronological age

Ø       One to one additional reading support

Ø       Ten week programme 15 minutes lesson, three times a week

Ø       Specific  targeting is advised e.g. pupils who  may achieve Level 5 at Key Stage 3 with additional support

Ø       Standardised assessment is used and shows pupils gain an average of nine months after a 10 week programme

Ø       Supports pupils improve and extend their use of academic language

Ø       Enhances Reading Partner’s skills to support the extension of pupils thinking and questioning skills

Business and Community Volunteers model

Ø       Primary school pupils who are operating at the class average

Ø       One to one additional support

Ø       Fifteen week programme 20 minute lessons once a week

Ø       Standardised assessment shows pupils gain an average of nine months after a 15 week programme

One business volunteer said: ‘I thoroughly enjoyed my time and was particularly proud to note that all my students increased their reading abilities’

For further information please contact either Gill Cartwright or Jan Hill on 01274 385887