Government reading scheme helping pupils

TdaNews Direct
Published: 12 May, 2008

A Government scheme to help pupils catch up with their reading is working, it has been reported.

Reading Recovery is an initiative that gives six-year-old pupils the chance to spend 30 minutes a day with a specially-trained teacher for 12 to 20 weeks, reports the BBC.

A study of 500 pupils taking part in this scheme has found that those involved not only caught up with their peers but exceeded them, outperforming the national average reading ability within two years.

Lead researcher Doctor Sue Burroughs-Lange explained to the BBC the level that these pupils were at when they embarked on the scheme.

She said: "They probably can write their first name, they usually can't read a book at all and they probably know five to eight letters - and that's after they have been in school for a year or more.

"What this study shows is that schools could enable almost every child to read and write appropriately for their age if those who were failing were given access to expert teaching…at an early age."

In related news, the General Teaching Council for England has welcomed proposals to make all trainee teachers provisionally register with the organisation from September this year.