Who is the intervention for?
Intensive Reader is offered to students in Year 7 who require support with reading fluency and comprehension. 

What does the intervention involve?
The intervention aims to enhance decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Students are initially screened for phonics gaps. Those requiring phonics support join a smaller group using the phonics programme, with progress tracked by our higher-level teaching assistant. Students not needing phonics are placed in a fluency and comprehension group, engaging in group reads with Badger Rapid Plus books, individual reading of books, and quizzing.
During group reads, students sit in a circle, using reading rulers to stay engaged. Activities include independent reading, phonological decoding (e.g., dot and dash), and fluency building with an intonation rubric. Resources like The Butterfly Lion, Tremors books, scripts, and seasonal stories are used, along with whiteboards for comprehension and vocabulary exercises. Additional tools, such as Trugs and fluency games, provide interactive support to boost reading skills and confidence.

When does the intervention take place?
In Year 7, Intensive Reader takes place during language lessons for half the academic year. There are four Intensive Reader classes in total. Two classes receive reading support from September to December, then again from May to July. The two remaining classes attend Intensive Reader from January until May half-term.
All students take Spanish for the remaining half of the year. 

Additional reading support is available in Years 8 to 11 and overseen by the literacy coordinator, Ms Vickerage.