At the National Academy we take a tiered approach to supporting students with their literacy.

Teachers use a literacy intervention guide to deliver purposeful and effective in-class interventions that meet the specific needs of your child. For example, if a student struggles to read passages due to gaps in vocabulary knowledge, staff may use the Frayer Model to support understanding of complex terms.

Diagnostic testing: At the beginning of Year 7, we use a nationally recognised reading test to provide diagnostic information about students’ reading strengths and areas for development. This information is used by all staff to inform their lesson planning.

Students who require phonics support work in small groups with the Inclusion team to develop their reading skills.

Our specialist Literacy Teaching Assistant, Abbie, works with small groups of students in Years 7 and 8 who would benefit from targeted support with reading comprehension.

Students identified as requiring support with reading fluency are supported by trained sixth-form mentors, who read with them twice a week under the guidance of Mr Evans.

In-lesson support: Every member of staff uses a wide range of information about students’ literacy to support your child through subject-specific teaching strategies. This may include modelling how to read like a scientist, explicitly teaching key vocabulary in geography, or using structured talk strategies in history to develop reasoning and argument.

Each week, staff are provided with specific literacy strategies through internal briefings to support targeted students.

Staff professional development plays a key role in supporting your child’s progress in reading. Both subject-specific and whole-school training underpin our approach to literacy support.