After the events of the last two years, there is plenty of catching-up to do – especially in reading among vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils.
Educational research shows the most effective solution for struggling readers is tutoring, either one-to-one or in small groups. One way to address this is via a highly motivating, peer-supported, interactive multimedia tutoring programme.
Tutoring with the Lightning Squad (TwLS) is a small-group, web-based reading programme for struggling readers from the Fischer Family Trust (FFT).
The aim of TwLS is to improve phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, word blending, spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension through interactive, partner-supported game-like cooperative activities.
What makes this reading offer high calibre is that it blends face-to-face tutoring with an engaging online platform.
This involves small groups of pupils working through 65 specially written and illustrated stories with a literacy intervention tutor to improve their reading skills.
The National Tutoring Programme provides subsidised high-quality tutoring from an approved list of tuition partners, FFT recruits the tutor (an experienced teaching assistant or qualified teacher), and 70 per cent of the tutoring cost is subsidised by the National Tutoring Programme with schools paying the remaining 30 per cent.
Pupils work with a tutor in daily half-hour sessions for six weeks to catch up their reading skills.
The tutor works with 20 to 30 pupils, delivering ten tutoring sessions each day for groups of two or three children for half an hour at a time.
After six weeks, FFT will train your own TAs to continue with the programme for another ten weeks, free of charge.
At the beginning of the programme, pupils take a short online assessment that helps decide which groups should work together and where they start on the programme.
When up and running, regular tutor checks are built in so that children are moved on when they are ready and have attained story-level mastery.
TwLS also keeps a close eye on reading attainment progress through its tracking and reporting feature.
Its individual online reports include new words learned, reading age, reading fluency and a measure of reading progress. A brilliant tutor dashboard makes sure no one slips under the radar.
The online activities are bright, highly engaging, and very easy to use and navigate. Pupils read progressively challenging stories and then engage in story-related activities with a partner, taking turns as the player/reader and coach.
Pupils receive reading-related rewards when they have passed their tutor check, and earn points that they can cash in for prizes.
Visit the FFT website to find out more.
