Home Reading Transformation using Fonetti

Leicestershire Primary School

Background

As a large, three-form primary school in Leicestershire, we have faced increasing challenges in parental engagement with children's learning, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Traditional bedtime stories are increasingly being replaced with screen time, and a growing number of our pupils are not being read to at home. This has significantly impacted their reading fluency and overall enthusiasm for reading.

The Challenge

We have observed a notable decline in parental involvement in home reading, contributing to a worrying drop in the number of children reading for pleasure. This issue is particularly pronounced in our Year 2 cohort, where a significant number of children are not meeting the expected reading standards for their age.

Implementing Fonetti

Due to technological constraints, we trialled the Fonetti app solely for home reading over a two-week period in January with our Year 2 pupils. We wanted to see whether an engaging, interactive digital solution could help bridge the gap and encourage more children to read aloud at home.

The Results

The impact of the Fonetti trial was staggering:

  • 79% of children read aloud at home using the app, a dramatic increase from the 12% who regularly read with an adult before the trial.

  • In just two weeks, the 81 participating children read 1,907 books, accumulating a combined total of 170 hours of reading time.

  • 96% of children reported enjoying using the app.

  • 84% of parents said their child would use the app regularly if the school had a subscription.

Teacher & Pupil Feedback

Year 2 teachers observed significant changes in their pupils:

  • Many children expressed that they missed having the app after the trial ended.

  • Teachers noticed improved speech clarity among pupils, which they attributed to more frequent reading aloud.

  • A noticeable increase in enthusiasm for reading was reported across the cohort.

Conclusion

Our two-week trial with Fonetti delivered remarkable results in a short time. By providing an interactive and engaging way for children to read aloud at home, we saw a dramatic increase in home reading participation, improved speech clarity, and a renewed enthusiasm for reading among our Year 2 pupils. The results strongly suggest that implementing Fonetti on a broader scale could have a lasting impact on reading engagement and literacy development.

We highly recommend Fonetti to other schools facing similar challenges, especially those looking for innovative ways to support home reading and re-engage parents in their children's literacy journey.