The Background

Ibstock Junior School introduced the Fonetti as part of an Intervention Programme to support a cohort of 30 pupils, including those receiving pupil premium support. The aim was to improve reading fluency, accuracy, and comprehension through an interactive, engaging approach.

Over six weeks, the entire cohort demonstrated an average reading rate improvement of two years, with one pupil premium student making exceptional progress beyond this.

The Challenge

Before the intervention, many students in the cohort struggled with reading fluency and comprehension, impacting their confidence and academic performance. One pupil premium student, in particular, had significant literacy difficulties, rarely engaged with reading, and required substantial support.

The Intervention

Each student in the cohort was provided access to Fonetti’s read-aloud platform, which:

Encouraged regular independent reading aloud
Tracked real-time progress in fluency and comprehension
Provided instant feedback, helping students improve accuracy

Over the six-week period, the entire cohort engaged in consistent reading practice, with the standout pupil reading for over 16 hours. Progress was measured using the York Assessment of Reading Comprehension (YARC) before and after the programme.

The Results

The impact of the programme was remarkable across all students:

The cohort’s average reading rate improved by two years
Accuracy and comprehension also saw significant gains
One pupil premium student made extraordinary progress:
- Accuracy: Improved by five months
- Reading rate: Increased by three years, one month
- Comprehension: Advanced by two years, eight months

Key Insights

All 30 pupils showed accelerated reading progress, demonstrating the effectiveness of structured reading interventions

The standout pupil’s rapid progress highlighted the programme’s potential to transform reading ability in a short time
Students gained confidence and motivation, engaging more with reading than before

Conclusion

The Fonetti Intervention Programme delivered exceptional results across a full cohort of students, proving that technology-enhanced reading can drive rapid literacy gains. By providing an engaging, structured approach to reading aloud and tracking progress, the programme helped students improve at scale while supporting those most in need.

For educators, these results reinforce the value of targeted, tech-enabled literacy interventions that can be seamlessly integrated into the classroom, reducing teacher workload while accelerating student progress.

Ms Alex Whitehouse
Assistant Headteacher,
Ibstock Junior School

Accelerating Literacy Progress at Ibstock Junior School