Who is it for?

Fresh Start is for:

• Pupils who have slipped through their primary school’s reading net
• Pupils who have missed schooling
• Late arrivals into the school: those who are new to the UK education system or whose first language is not English

Direct teaching:

Direct teaching underpins Fresh Start. Every day, pupils learn new letter-sounds and review previous sounds and words. They apply what they’ve been taught by reading words containing the sounds they know in lively, age-appropriate stories and non-fiction texts that are closely matched to their increasing phonic knowledge. By the end of the programme, they will be able to read these accurately and fluently.

How does it work?

Pupils are taught either individually or in a small progress groups each day. This means they learn at their ‘challenge’ level. The duration will depend on each pupil’s starting place. Some pupils might need only a few weeks’ tutoring; others may need two or three terms.

Grouping:

Pupils’ phonic knowledge is assessed before they start the programme, and then every half term. Regrouping them maximises their progress and allows reading tutors to provide extra practice for some pupils and whisk others through the programme.