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An Evaluation of the ‘Switch-on Reading’ Literacy Catch-up Programme

Gorard, S.A.C.; Siddiqui, N.; See, B.H.

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Abstract

This paper is based on one of the first completed studies funded by the Educational Endowment Foundation (EEF). EEF was set up in response to repeated demands for clearer evidence on school improvement. The paper presents the results of an intensive 10-week literacy intervention called Switch-on Reading. This was trialled in England as part of a government initiative to assist children below Level 4 literacy while at age 10 to catch up with their peers on transfer to secondary school. Switch-on took place in 19 Nottinghamshire schools, with 314 year 7 pupils individually randomised to treatment in the first or second term of school year 2012/13. This is the largest trial so far conducted of this kind of 10-week reading intervention. It was delivered on a one-to-one basis by trained school staff, mostly teaching assistants. The independent evaluation was based on pre and post administration of the New Group Reading Test, and on observations and interviews in schools. The overall result was an effect size of +0.24, based on the pooled standard deviation of the post-test score (and the gain score) for both groups, meaning that the programme made a noticeable positive impact. This effect can be envisaged as suggesting that on average a pupil receiving the intervention would make approximately three additional months' progress over the course of a year compared with similar pupils who did not, at a cost of around £600. The evaluation identified positive results for all groups of pupils (defined by sex, first language, ethnicity, special educational needs, free school meal eligibility and measured attainment at the outset). The trial also illustrates a key role for teaching assistants and shows the feasibility of the EEF research programme.

Citation

Gorard, S., Siddiqui, N., & See, B. (2015). An Evaluation of the ‘Switch-on Reading’ Literacy Catch-up Programme. British Educational Research Journal, 41(4), 596-612. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3157

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Aug 8, 2014
Publication Date Aug 1, 2015
Deposit Date Jul 1, 2014
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal British Educational Research Journal
Print ISSN 0141-1926
Electronic ISSN 1469-3518
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 41
Issue 4
Pages 596-612
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3157

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Copyright Statement
This is the accepted version of the following article: Gorard, S., Siddiqui, N. and See, B. H. (2014), An evaluation of the ‘Switch-on Reading’ literacy catch-up programme. British Educational Research Journal, 41(4): 596-612, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/berj.3157. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.




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