Education Action Zone
Zone Initiatives
1.The Better Reading Partnership (BRP) Programme at Cotsford Infant School
The programme aims to improve the skills of average readers enabling them to become more successful in their independent reading. The programme teaches children to use their reading skills more effectively.
How it works
Each pupil reads with a trained adult for 15 minutes three times a week for a period of 10 weeks. Pupils are taught individually. BRP sessions take place during the school day or at dinnertime.
At each session the child partner reads three pieces of text:
- a familiar piece
- the piece introduced in the last session
- a brand new piece
as they read, pupils are taught ways in which to sort out problem words or phrases.
Who are the BRP Adult partners?
Volunteers from the school community, ours include parents, dinner nannies, caretaker, secretary, classroom assistants and teachers. Partners receive 2 full days of high quality training from a literacy consultant plus ongoing support from the school’s BRP co-ordinator.
Does it Work?
The answer is a big 
Pupil A - Reading age up by 5 months
Pupil B - up by 15 months
Pupil C - up by 5 months
Pupil D - up by 2 months (can’t win them all)
Pupil E - up by 26 months
Pupil F - up by 40 months
Pupil G - up by 6 months
Pupil H - up by 20 months
But the gains aren’t just in reading progress (although this is very good) the programme also improves confidence, enthusiasm, motivation and behaviour.
The adult partners gain too…