CPD on Supporting Struggling Readers in Secondary Schools

Reading is the essential foundation for success in all subjects, yet for a range of reasons, many children start Key Stage 3 below the expected reading level. At Key Stage 3, reading is crucial to access the whole curriculum, and children who are behind at the start of secondary school risk falling further behind by Key Stage 4. Secondary schools need to support children to catch up rapidly, including children who may have become disengaged, mask their reading difficulties, or struggle with very specific components of reading. However, secondary schools have less access to training in early reading compared to primary schools. We are looking for a provider to develop a continuous professional development (CPD) package for the secondary school workforce, to equip secondary schools to put evidence-based support in place for struggling readers. We are interested in a range of tools and resources that could support this aim, as well as different approaches to delivering training. The support offer would be developed next financial year and will need to be accessible to a wide range of secondary schools.