Banner to say that the title of this page is About RWI Fresh Start in secondary schools.

About Fresh Start – secondary schools

In a nutshell

Fresh Start is a systematic synthetic phonics programme for struggling readers aged 9 to 13+. In secondary schools, it is for students who: 

  • did not meet national expectations at the end of Key Stage 2 
  • have missed schooling or are late arrivals into school 
  • are new to the UK education system 
  • are learning English as an additional language. 

There are still too many students leaving primary school who read too slowly to take in the meaning of what they are reading. These students cannot access the curriculum – and only 10% will gain a GCSE in Maths and English. 

Fresh Start accelerates students’ reading accuracy, fluency and stamina in just 30 minutes a day. Students make as much as two years’ progress in only two months. 

Students and teachers talk about increased reading ages and confidence. 

How does Fresh Start help you to rescue struggling readers? 

  • Quick diagnostic assessment ensures you start students at their highest point on the programme for speedy progress, whether this is for accurate decoding or for reading fluency – or both. 
  • Daily phonics lessons are at each student’s ‘challenge point’. Students progress quickly because they learn and review letter-sounds and words at their level. 
  • New motivating age-appropriate Modules reflect students’ everyday experiences and backgrounds. Older readers enjoy applying their new phonic knowledge to engaging matched decodable stories and non-fiction texts. 
  • Teach Fresh Start flexibly depending on the number of students who need it in your school, and the number of staff you have available. 
  • Fresh Start mirrors the DfE’s 2023 Reading Framework. You can be confident you have everything covered. 

This is students’ last chance to succeed at school. Let’s stick with them until they can really read. 

How does Fresh Start help you to rescue struggling readers? 

  • Quick diagnostic assessment ensures you start students at their highest point on the programme for speedy progress, whether this is for accurate decoding or for reading fluency – or both. 
  • Daily phonics lessons are at each student’s ‘challenge point’. Students progress quickly because they learn and review letter-sounds and words at their level. 
  • New motivating age-appropriate Modules reflect students’ everyday experiences and backgrounds. Older readers enjoy applying their new phonic knowledge to engaging matched decodable stories and non-fiction texts. 
  • Teach Fresh Start flexibly depending on the number of students who need it in your school, and the number of staff you have available. 
  • Fresh Start mirrors the DfE’s 2023 Reading Framework. You can be confident you have everything covered. 

This is students’ last chance to succeed at school. Let’s stick with them until they can really read. 

Students and teachers talk about increased reading ages and confidence. 

Time required for teaching

Students are taught for 30 minutes each day throughout the programme.  

Students starting later in the programme only need a few weeks’ tutoring; those starting at the beginning need two or three terms.  

To ensure the most struggling readers make speedy progress, they are taught individually for the first 13 Modules. They then move to working in small progress groups.  

Fresh Start works even if you’re short of time and staff – we’re here to help with a solution for every context. 

Assessment at the start of the programme and every half term helps you with organisation.

Children with SEND

Older students with SEND are sometimes better taught using Read Write Inc. Phonics One-to-one Tutoring. Although designed for primary, it uses a smaller-step approach and provides a greater amount of practice. 

We can help you make this decision – contact us here.

Home support

The Virtual Classroom has over 600 phonics films to send home and students take home their Fresh Start Module and an Anthology every week. 

The importance of teaching students to read. 

The role of the Reading Leader in secondary schools.

The impact of individual support from a well-trained, enthusiastic tutor.  

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