Child literacy scheme achieves 'excellent results'

A literacy initiative which was launched in secondary schools has achieved "excellent results", the States of Guernsey has said.

The Thinking Reading programme was launched at the start of the academic year to help improve the reading ability of students in Year 7.

The government said the scheme was part of the education committee's commitment to "closing the literacy gap for students most in need".

Kelly Child, language and literacy specialist intervention team leader, said her team offered "tailored support, not available in this way in most UK schools".

Ms Child said: "We are incredibly proud to see such fantastic results from the first year of formally delivering the Thinking Reading programme in secondary schools..."

The government said 30 students across Year 7 in Guernsey had taken part in the programme, with many advancing to a reading age of 12 "thanks to its rigorous, research-based and highly personalised approach".

The Literary Intervention Team, which includes 17 teachers across Guernsey and Alderney, support over 300 children each year, it added.

Nick Hynes, Director of Education, said schools had "made significant progress" in recent years.

"Scientific evidence shows that while some children face greater neurodevelopmental challenges, almost all can learn to read with systematic, high quality support," he said.

"The results are clearly showing that by shifting our focus from reactive to preventative approaches, we are reducing future reading problems and ensuring more children can succeed from the start."

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