How a struggling reader gained more than three years in reading fluency in just six weeks.
Ibstock Junior School used Fonetti as a targeted reading intervention for pupils needing extra support, with one pupil premium child making extraordinary progress in a matter of weeks.
Background
Ibstock Junior School introduced Fonetti as a reading intervention to tackle literacy challenges among its pupils, with a particular focus on pupil premium recipients who needed additional support. One standout participant was a pupil premium child with significant areas of need who had been reading very little, and whose accuracy, rate and comprehension all required substantial improvement. These gaps were a barrier to both her academic progress and her confidence.
To measure impact rigorously, the school used the York Assessment of Reading Comprehension (YARC), a standardised assessment that can also provide evidence when applying for extra time in SATs and other access arrangements. The pupil was assessed before the intervention, given a device and signed up to Fonetti, then reassessed six weeks later.
The Impact
The results were exceptional.
Reading Levels Leapt Forward
- Accuracy improved by 5 months.
- Reading rate increased by 3 years and 1 month.
- Comprehension advanced by 2 years and 8 months.
All three were measured on the YARC across just six weeks.
Engagement Transformed
- The pupil read aloud for more than 16 hours on Fonetti during the six-week period, having previously read very little at all.
- Her confidence and motivation grew steadily as her reading strengthened.
Wider Gains Across the Group
- Other pupils on the programme also showed notable progress, though this pupil premium recipient’s results were the most striking.
Teacher Feedback
“Within six weeks, the pupil’s results were incredible. Her progress in accuracy, rate, and comprehension has been truly impressive and serves as a testament to the power of the Fonetti platform in addressing literacy challenges.” — Alex Whitehouse, Assistant Headteacher, Ibstock Junior School
Conclusion
Ibstock’s six-week intervention shows what targeted, technology-led support can achieve. By pairing a standardised assessment with Fonetti’s interactive, read-aloud approach, the school enabled a struggling reader to make rapid, measurable gains in accuracy, rate and comprehension, while building the confidence to match.
Fonetti: closing literacy gaps and building confident readers, one page at a time.