Supporting Students with Reading

Mortimer's Reading Intervention

Reading

All students will complete a baseline Sparx Reading test. From this, students will be identified who may need additional support and intervention.

All students will:

  • Complete high quality and independent reading through Sparx Reader each week.
  • Use Mortimer’s Reading Strategy to approach the reading of all texts and across all subjects.
  • Use a ruler to read.
  • Use adapted / scaffolded texts where needed across all subject areas, including lined numbers, double spacing, and glossing.

Intervention

Mortimer’s Reading Intervention Programme

  • We use Mortimer’s Reading Intervention Programme, a bespoke and teacher-led programme which is underpinned by the EEF and The National Literacy Trust. It focuses on comprehension, decoding, and reading fluency. We use a range of exciting fiction and non-fiction texts to ensure engagement is high.
  • Students will be monitored and tracked throughout the reading intervention programme.

Lexonic Leap at Mortimer

  • This programme is a targeted phonics reading intervention programme to allow students to master the skill of reading. It is delivered to small groups by trained staff.
  • Lexonic Leap is designed for students who find basic literacy challenging, especially older learners.
  • The programme addresses phonics gaps with age-appropriate resources, ensuring students of all ages can build foundational literacy skills quickly and confidently.

HANDWRITING SUPPORT - BUBBLE WRITING 

Students who require support with their handwriting are identified by the SEND department and participate in our Bubble Handwriting Intervention. Students participate in four 20-minute sessions per week and finish the intervention when their handwriting has improved. Students practice letter formation and pen lifting in order to increase legibility and writing speed. During the intervention, students practice writing on Bubble Boards to develop their confidence and increase engagement; they then apply these skills when writing on paper. 

How can you support your child?

How to encourage your child to read...

  • Read yourself! Set a good example by reading for fun and talking about the reading you do at work and at home. Let your child know that books and reading are an important part of your life.
  • Don’t stop reading to your child. Some children enjoy being read to long after they are fluent readers themselves.
  • Visit the library. Take the family to join the local library – it’s free! Make a weekly visit.
  • Make a time to read. Set aside a time for family reading – after school or before bedtime.
  • Don’t just read books. Encourage your child to read newspapers, TV guides and magazines.
  • Talk about books. Talk to your child and their friends about their book preferences. Talk about the books you like to read.
  • Let your child read with younger children. Encourage them to read to younger members of the family.
  • Keep in touch with school. Talk with teachers about your child’s reading. They will be able to tell you if your child needs any extra help. Find out which books your child is reading in class and read them as well. You can then discuss them together.
  • If English is not your child’s first language. You can buy dual language books. You can talk about books and stories in any language.

How to help them with reading...

  • Spot words inside words. Help them to spot words they know within larger, more complicated words.
  • Don’t make them try too hard! It doesn’t matter if you have to tell them the word sometimes.
  • Let them read their favourites. Don’t worry if they want to read the same books again, or stick to one kind of book. If they get really stuck, ask the librarian or teacher to recommend something they might like.
  • Make the story come to life. Encourage your child to read aloud with expression, so the story comes to life. This will help them more fluently.
  • Discuss books. Ask your child to tell you about the books they are reading: the type of book, the characters, the plot. Encourage them to have an opinion – was it a good book? Why?
  • Use a dictionary. Buy your child a dictionary and encourage them to use it to check the meanings of new words.
  • Turn on the subtitles. Research has shown that it can double the chance of your child leaving school as a proficient reader.
Click to open 'Turn on the Subtitles' website

Research & Evidence

Find out More - Shining a Spotlight on Reading Fluency