Cumbrian school children with literacy difficulties are benefiting from an innovative reading intervention project according to Channel 4's 'Dispatches' programme.
Researchers from the programme have been working with Cumbria County Council's education service since the beginning of the year and will be broadcasting their findings in a special documentary on Thursday 8th September at 9pm.
Cumbria's project is featured in the National Primary Strategy guide to effective interventions for children with literacy difficulties. Channel 4 will highlight how Cumbria delivers the project and why it should be available to other children throughout the country. Work being done in three Carlisle schools will be featured in the programme.
Reading intervention is an intensive, research-based programme that is an effective way of accelerating the development of children's early literacy skills. The theory behind it involves linking the teaching of reading with the development of a child's phonological skills. Teaching is based on detailed assessments of the child. One to one teaching is then provided over twelve weeks.
County councillor Philip Chappelhow, cabinet spokesman for children's services said:
"It's wonderful to see one of our initiatives publicised nationally. Cumbria really is ahead of the game when it comes to providing effective ways to work with children with reading disabilities.
"Reading intervention originated in Cumbria and is widely available across the county. Other councils are already wanting to learn more from us about our project. Our tutors have been able to provide so many children who have significant delays in early literacy skills with a learning programme that suits them. These children have since come on 'leaps and bounds'. I would like to congratulate everyone who has been involved in the programme and would encourage anyone wanting to find out more to tune into Channel 4 on Thursday."