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Literacy Intervention

Statement of Intent:

At Kettering Science Academy (KSA) we are fervent advocates of the empowering potential of literacy for all of our students, whatever their starting point. Being able to read fluently, write and speak and listen at an age appropriate level is fundamental in allowing our students to grow and thrive and a key component in our curriculum commitment to learners at KSA. We firmly believe that ‘Every member of staff is a Teacher of Literacy’ and this is a fundamental thread in our development of teaching and learning as we move through 2020 and beyond.

We will provide all students the knowledge of phonics to read fluently and at an age appropriate level. We will support all students to have the strength to read a wide range of challenging texts, both fiction and non-fiction. All students will have the ambition to read widely and often, recognising reading as a key skill to enable success in adulthood.

Assessing:

GL NGRT Assessments are used on entry to Year 7 to assess students’ reading fluency. Students who have not yet developed age appropriate reading skills will be supported to improve their reading fluency, ensuring they can access all of our ambitious curriculum.

Students’ reading fluency will be re-assessed at least annually in KS3 to continually track the impact of our literacy provision and to ensure no child falls behind.

Supporting your child to improve their reading age

Supporting your child to improve their reading age:

It is vital that all students continue to develop their reading skills so that they are best prepared to tackle all of their lessons, to be supported to learn more and remember more. All subjects skilfully plan for students’ literacy development, including techniques such as using explicit vocabulary instruction and reciprocal reading techniques. All students also read a novel together at least one morning per week.

There are also lots of ways that students and their families can help to develop their reading fluency

  • Read lots. Encourage your child to read as much as possible at home: books, magazines, news articles online, newspapers Ask you child to summarise what they have read.
  • Ask your child what has happened this week in their class novel: KSA Reads
  • Borrow books: encourage your child to borrow books from our fabulous school library
  • Borrow more books: encourage your child to join the local library and borrow books
  • Students in Year 7 and 8: encourage your child to complete Accelerated Reader quizzes online (more information below)
  • Complete all reading homeworks set on Edulink

If you would like to talk to us about helping your child improve their reading then please either call us and ask for Mr Lewis or email george.lewis@ketteringscienceacademy.org

Accelerated Reader:

Accelerated Reader was introduced in 2020 and has continued to be a successful reading programme.  Students in Year 7 and Year 8 visit the Library once every two weeks to choose new books and access Accelerated Reader (AR). This is an online reading programme which helps the librarian and teachers monitor students’ independent reading practice and progress.

Students pick a book within their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and read it at their own pace. When finished, students take a short quiz using a computer; passing the quiz is an indication that the student has understood what has been read and they receive immediate feedback. Students respond to regular feedback and are motivated to make progress with their reading skills. Selected students in Year 9 will also take part in the Accelerated Reader programme…do we want to add something about Literacy Leaders?

To earn/glean/get a ZPD, students complete a Star Reading test which creates a comprehensive set of reports and reveals how much a student has been reading, at what level of complexity, and how well they have understood what they have read. Vocabulary growth and literacy skills are also measured, giving teachers insight into how well students have responded to reading schemes and class instruction.

Fresh Start:

In autumn 2021 we launched a new literacy intervention programme for Key Stage 3 students who need the most support with their reading: ‘Fresh Start’ created by Ruth Miskin.

Fresh Start is an intervention programme for Secondary students, developed by Ruth Miskin to follow on from the Primary programme ‘Read, Write, Inc.’, which your child may have been taught in their younger school years.

Using the techniques and knowledge that your child may have already acquired, the Fresh Start programme develops literacy skills further, whilst engaging your child in a fun and fast-paced daily 30-minute lesson.

After an initial placement test, students are placed in groups of no more than seven students; this allows for excellent small-group teaching, where they can feel safe and secure to enjoy the Fresh Start experience. Students build upon their knowledge and develop their literacy skills.

During the sessions, students will work through the Fresh Start system, increasing their bank of sounds and the different options for spelling those sounds. This is done by learning helpful phrases and colourful pictures, which help to recall the correct spelling option.

Within the session, students will also work through modules that relate to, and build upon the sounds previously learnt. The modules also help the students by improving their reading and comprehension skills.

Students will also use a collection of Anthologies that contain both factual and fictional articles. Students will bring these home and are set daily reading tasks. We would ask parents to listen to their children read evey day as this will reinforce the learning that has taken place in school. We also hope this will be an enjoyable experience for both child and parent, encouraging more reading practice.

The English language is one of the hardest and most complex languages to learn. The English alphabet contains 26 letters, made of 5 vowels and 21 consonants. These letters make 44 sounds, using one of 108 different letter combinations. For example:

ay, a-e, ai, a

ee, e-e, y, ea, e

igh, i-e, ie, i, y

j, g, ge, dge

By completing the Fresh Start programme, your child will find it easier to remember which the correct spelling choice for a particular sound is.

If you have any questions regarding the Fresh Start programme, please do not hesitate to contact one of the following members of staff on their email address below; George Lewis, Claire Siddall & Karen Docherty.

George.Lewis@ketteringscienceacademy.org

Claire.Siddall@ketteringscienceacademy.org

Karen.Docherty@ketteringscienceacademy.org