Improving literacy rates is crucial for accessing learning, and determines long-term outcomes including access to employment. 

In September 2020, after 3+ years of development and discussion, Virtual School Heads in the West Midlands (Coventry, Sandwell, Birmingham, and Dudley) partnered with Equal Education to launch a regional scale literacy-focused tutoring intervention programme.

Coined Tuition Individualised Learning Programme (TILP), the programme aims to improve the educational outcomes for Children in Care. Wave 1 included sixteen Year 10 Pupils, with 10 tutors from 8 schools carefully chosen from the teaching staff to carry out 1-1 tuition. One precondition was already having a good relationship with the young person which enabled the ‘Tutor – Tutee’ to build a stronger relationship and enable the young person to fully engage in the tuition and develop their literacy skills.

Tutors and students accessed ReadingWise and GL Assessment to provide assistive technology for learning and to monitor progress, with students taking a beginning, mi-point and end assessment. All participants received an iPad supplied from Equal Education to enable access to additional learning resources at home during school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Impact 

Although Covid disrupted the programme’s smooth delivery, it did not stop some students making 2+ years’ progress in reading age. Of the 16 pupils who completed the programme, 9 completed both baseline and end assessment, with 66% of pupils making progress; 44% made at least 2yrs+ Reading Age and 22% of pupils made between 4-14months progress. 

Also, and perhaps equally important, tutors were able to develop their mentoring and pastoral skills, particularly in meeting the social and emotional (SEMH) needs of students which they will be able to develop further with other students within their schools in the future. 

Teachers’ feedback highlights this: 

• “I take great pride in the emotional support that this project has provided for them [Pupils] over an incredibly challenging year. I look forward to leading them through the final half term towards summer and indeed their well-earned rest.”

• “Your guidance has provided invaluable throughout the academic year and I have learned a great deal. I look forward to continuing working with you in the next academic year.”

• “I have learnt that sometimes there are issues out of your control that can have a big impact on the student’s willingness to learn. We as teachers need to be prepared to adapt the way we work with young people.”

Next steps

TILP Strategic Leads Gwen Fennell and Michelle Bentley have provided recommendations incorporating lessons from Wave 1 to update the design and implementation of TILP Wave 2, commencing in September 2021. This aims to reach  an additional 25+ care-experienced pupils in Year 9 across 10+ schools across the West Midlands, with future regional (and potential global) expansion on the horizon.

If you are interested in taking part in the programme, please email gwen.fennell@equaleducation.co.uk.