Day 1 content:

-        Speed Sounds Set 1, 2 and 3

-        Word reading and spelling

-        Baseline and ongoing assessment

-        Assessment and Grouping with Head Teachers, Heads of Departments of English, SEN, EAL, MFL, Fresh Start Leader

Timings: 9am to 3.30pm

Day 2 content:

-        Reading activities – reading to build accuracy, speed and comprehension

-        Writing activities – spelling words, writing sentences and writing composition

-        Fresh Start timetables

Timings: 9am to 3.30pm

Fresh Start is an intervention programme for older struggling readers in Y5, 6, 7 and 8 with a reading age of 9.5 and below.

Fresh Start works on the same teaching and learning principles as Read Write Inc. Phonics and includes the same activities. The resources are age appropriate to capture the interest of older students. We aim to get children reading accurately and fluently as quickly as possible so they can access literacy and English lessons.

Yes, we have many schools where children with SEN are taught to read with Fresh Start. SEN students with significant delay will benefit from being taught one-to-one by a teacher or teaching assistant. Some students might be better placed on Read Write Inc. Phonics.

Yes, EAL students new to English make speedy progress and should be taught alongside other students. Always group EAL students according to their phonic progress. They are not held back in the programme because they are new to English.

For maximum progress we suggest teaching Fresh Start for an hour per day, 4 days a week. However, we know that an hour is not always possible and indicate on the timetable how to adapt for 35-40 minutes.

Students are assessed every half term to ensure they are grouped according to reading progress.  This is vital to ensure each student makes the fastest possible progress.

We suggest that teachers take groups of up to 8 children and teaching assistants teach 1 or 2 students at a time throughout the day.

All students in Years 5, 6, 7 and 8 who are below National Curriculum expectations for reading are assessed using our Entry Assessment. Students are placed in reading groups and reassessed and regrouped every 6-8 weeks.

Note: students are grouped by their word reading and fluency – not by comprehension or writing, or by their age.

Some schools also choose to use a commercial reading age test before and after Fresh Start teaching to measure the impact on their reading age.

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