Evaluating an innovative classroom reading intervention in Years 2 and 3

Researchers: Professor Brahm Norwich | Dr Alexey Bessudnov ...

Project overview


Despite continued efforts to ensure that all children benefit from Key Stage 1 teaching, between 7-18% of pupils still show reading delay when they enter Key Stage 2 at age 7.

The Integrated Group Reading (IGR) programme aims to help these struggling readers. This study will evaluate the programme on a national scale. This follows on from a smaller-scale evaluation, which indicated that Year 2 and 3 children with reading delay made impressive progress with the IGR programme.

The IGR programme integrates into existing guided reading teaching for those children who require a more focused approach. It highlights the connection between phonics-for-reading and the importance for children of story and meaning-making. It also provides teachers with carefully designed materials ‘ such as short books and story-specific games ‘ to underpin this. By combining lively, story-focused teacher-led small group work with one-to-one consolidation with teaching assistants, it aims to be fun for children, simple and thorough.

The researchers will first examine whether children’s reading accuracy, comprehension and reading attitudes will be enhanced by IGR compared to usual teaching approaches. Secondly, they will examine how the programme is taught in practice and teachers’ experience of the approach. In the main evaluation, 80 teachers from 40 schools in four areas of the country will participate in a cluster randomised trial, involving 320 children in experimental and control groups. Participating teachers will attend a one-day introductory training and will then be supported by their local literacy advisers and the project team.

The outcomes and recommendations of this project will be communicated through networks, conferences and publications on a national and international scale.

Team


  • Professor Brahm Norwich
    University of Exeter
  • Dr Alexey Bessudnov
    University of Exeter
  • Dr George Koutsouris
    University of Exeter
  • Jan Stebbing
    University of Exeter
  • Anita Wood
    University of Exeter

  • Eleanor Ireland headshot
    Programme Head, Education
    Nuffield Foundation
  • Director, Education
    Nuffield Foundation

Explore our projects

New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

View project
Teacher with secondary pupils
New

Education | 2024 - 2028

Teaching improvement through data and evaluation (TIDE)

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Long-term outcomes of high-achieving disadvantaged children

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Exploring academic selection and grammar schools in Northern Ireland

View project
Young girl using an iPad at home
New

Education | 2024 - 2024

Early years digital media literacy review

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Pupil school mobility: types, pathways and implications for education

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

View project
Little girls in primary school uniform

Education | 2024 - 2026

Developing a classroom intervention to improve conversation skills

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Vocabulary for Reading: the power of words

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Spending across different stages of education

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

A feasibility and pilot trial of the Early Years Library

View project
Secondary school music teacher smiles at students working together at a keyboard.
New

Education | 2024 - 2025

Teacher recruitment & retention challenges in England

View project
Young girl using an iPad at home
New

Education | 2024 - 2024

Early years digital media literacy review

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Pupil school mobility: types, pathways and implications for education

View project
Teacher with secondary pupils
New

Education | 2024 - 2028

Teaching improvement through data and evaluation (TIDE)

View project
Secondary school music teacher smiles at students working together at a keyboard.
New

Education | 2024 - 2025

Teacher recruitment & retention challenges in England

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

A feasibility and pilot trial of the Early Years Library

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

View project
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Vocabulary for Reading: the power of words

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Spending across different stages of education

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Exploring academic selection and grammar schools in Northern Ireland

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Long-term outcomes of high-achieving disadvantaged children

View project
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2024

Artificial intelligence and education

View project
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2024

Artificial intelligence and education

View project
Two little boys and a little girl, all wearing primary school uniform, work together to solve a puzzle in their classroom.
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2025

What has ‘Free School Meals’ measured and what are the implications?

View project
Father and daughter having fun at home
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2024

Optimisation and feasibility of Triple P parenting programme for remote delivery

View project
Early years professionals playing with children
In progress

Education | 2022 - 2024

Understanding the take-up of early education entitlements

View project
Primary school children using a microscope during a lesson outside at school
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2025

Purposeful and effective practical work in primary school science

View project
Male and female apprentices looking at car engine
In progress

Education | 2022 - 2025

Work or study? Gender and the transition from school to work

View project
Two teenage male pupils study a science lesson as part of their post-16 options
In progress

Education | 2019 - 2024

Post-16 pathways: the role of peers, family background and expectations

View project
Teacher helping primary school girl with schoolwork in the classroom
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2024

The impact of additional learning needs identification in Wales

View project
Teenage sixth form students taking notes in a lesson
In progress

Education | 2022 - 2024

Comparing inequality and outcomes across post-16 education in the UK

View project
Teenage sixth form students walking into college
In progress

Education | 2022 - 2025

The long-term impact of the Education Maintenance Allowance

View project
Little girl watches TV on her own at home
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2025

Do same language subtitles help children learn to read?

View project
14 year old girl doing homework
In progress

Education | 2022 - 2024

Experiences of 14 to 16 year olds in Further Education in England

View project
Young girl using an iPad at home
New

Education | 2024 - 2024

Early years digital media literacy review

View project
Secondary school music teacher smiles at students working together at a keyboard.
New

Education | 2024 - 2025

Teacher recruitment & retention challenges in England

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

A feasibility and pilot trial of the Early Years Library

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

View project
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Vocabulary for Reading: the power of words

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Spending across different stages of education

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Exploring academic selection and grammar schools in Northern Ireland

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Long-term outcomes of high-achieving disadvantaged children

View project
Teenager hugging their mother
New

Welfare | 2023 - 2025

Juvenile onset rheumatic diseases: education, vocational readiness, & employment

View project
School children with their bicycles in the school yard. Happy as a girl and boy walk pushing them side by side.
New

Education | Welfare | 2022 - 2024

Modifying school choice for more equitable outcomes in England

View project
New

Education | 2022 - 2023

The medium-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pupils with SEND

View project
Reception class children using a parachute in a PE lesson
Reported

Education | 2022 - 2023

A movement and story-telling intervention for reception children

View project
Side view of two female high school students in classroom working on laptops social distancing. Student in foreground is in focus and student in background is blurred
Reported

Education | 2021 - 2022

COVID-19 and disadvantage gaps in England 2020 and 2021

View project
Young boy draws and plays with a globe as part of nursery education
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2022

COVID-19 and childcare: local impacts across England

View project
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2022

Ethical principles underpinning co-production with young people

View project
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2021

COVID-19 mitigation measures: education provision and access to special schools

View project
Young-boy-uses-tablet-with-mother-for-maths-learning-Can-maths-apps-add-value-to-learning-PROJ
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2022

Can maths apps add value to learning?

View project
Male secondary school student working at home on laptop
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2021

The impact of COVID-19 on mainstream schools in England

View project
Teenage-girl-looks-at-smartphone-next-to-laptop-Growing-up-under-COVID-19-PROJ
Reported

Education | Welfare | 2020 - 2022

Growing up under COVID-19

View project
Top view of librarian sitting with five multiethnic children on floor. Teacher reading book to cute girls and young boys at school.
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2022

Comparisons of cognitive skills and educational attainment across the UK

View project
Teenage-pupil-wearing-woolly-hat-writes-on-whiteboard-The-influence-of-headteachers-on-their-schools-PROJ
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2024

The influence of headteachers on their schools

View project
Young-child-blurred-in-background-plays-with-abacus-in-foreground-Early-years-employment-pathways-PROJ
Reported

Education | 2019 - 2020

A systematic review of early years degrees and employment pathways

View project
A middle-aged teacher sits at her desk and helps a female student with a problem in her textbook.
Reported

Education | Welfare | 2020 - 2020

Measuring the disadvantage attainment gap in 16-19 education

View project
Search projects

Profile