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2.3 St Kentigern's Academy, Blackburn, West Lothian

Toe By Toe Reading Programme
St Kentigern's Academy

Background
A key priority in the School Development Plan of St Kentigern's is that of "Raising Attainment" through a range of strategies.

The development of a partnership between the younger pupils and the senior students was regarded as being a source which could be tapped as one such strategy to both raise the attainment of young pupils and at the same time provide an avenue for senior students to achieve success in contributing to the learning environment ethos of the school.

Implementation
The Toe by Toe Reading Programme was set up in August 1997 and has been part of the Learning Support Department development plan ever since. Through a system of peer support, SI pupils are matched to a senior school student. They meet for 3 sessions per week at registration time 8.45 -9.05 to participate in the programme. One session per week senior students undergo their training to keep them prepared for what is coming up and to evaluate previous sessions. On completion of the scheme pupils receive a certificate of completion with senior students efforts appreciated through the school's system of recognition and reward. These certificates form part of the pupils' Records of Achievement. Parents are consulted at the start of the scheme and at intervals throughout thus adding a further important element to the partnership.

Evaluation
The objective evaluation of the scheme involves establishing pupils' reading levels at the start in the form of a reading age. Pupils are re-tested on completion of the programme and results are recorded in terms of improved reading age. On a subjective level, parents, tutors and the pupils themselves are asked to comment on the benefits of the programme. Parents quote the main benefit as being raised confidence levels when their children are undertaking reading tasks.