The English College in Prague

The English College in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Independent Reading, Library Use, Motivation, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload, Student Engagement, Whole-School Literacy

Renaissance solutions are having a significant impact on children’s desire and ability to read.

Vision Multi Academy Trust - Sunny Bank Primary School and Higher Lane Primary School, Bury

We spoke to James Gabrielides, Interim Headteacher at Sunny Bank Primary School, who has been using Accelerated Reader and Star Reading for several years in several different schools. James chats to us about the difference that both Accelerated Reader and Star Reading are having on the reading development of pupils.

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, Independent Reading, Library Use, Motivation, Professional Development, Progress Monitoring, Reading At Home, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload, Student Engagement, Target Setting, Whole-School Literacy

How we changed attitudes towards reading with the Complete Literacy Solution from Renaissance

Boothferry Primary School, East Riding of Yorkshire

In 2017, Accelerated Reader and Star Reading was brought in to support the school's literacy strategy and promote more positive attitudes towards reading. In February 2019, the school received a 'Good' Ofsted inspection report, with specific recognition of the school's teaching of reading:

"The teaching of reading is a strength of the school. Teachers provide high-quality support for pupils to develop their reading comprehension. Pupils confidently talk about their whole-school reading challenge, which motivates them to gain rewards for reading regularly."

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, Incentives, Independent Reading, Intervention, Library Use, Motivation, Ofsted, Parents, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Premium, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure

Providing structure to every child’s reading pattern

New Barn School, Horsham

Accelerated Reader and Star Reading have helped teachers to monitor progress by observing their change of Reading Age as well as looking at how strong they are in the different components of Reading.

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, Independent Reading, Library Use, Motivation, Ofsted, Progress Monitoring, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, SEN, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload, Student Engagement

The Complete Literacy Solution at Finham Park Multi-Academy Trust

FInham Park Multi Academy Trust, Coventry

In 2017, Finham Park School, Finham Park 2 and Lyng Hall School all invested in Accelerated Reader and Star Reading to improve literacy levels and develop a sustainable reading culture. In July 2020, they also invested in myON by Renaissance, the online digital library, to tackle a further loss to reading development to support the blended learning throughout the 20/21 academic year. This is their story.

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, EAL, Intervention, Motivation, Ofsted, Progress Monitoring, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Staff Engagement, Student Engagement, Whole-School Literacy

Using Focus Skills to ensure understanding and mastery

Ellis Guilford Comprehensive School, Nottingham

I want to make use of the data more for teachers and I’m hoping, in time, our teachers will have a better grasp of Accelerated Reader and Star Reading. I think the Star Reading programme will be invaluable for our teachers because once you know whether pupils are growing or not, you can now group them and use the instructional planning report to see what individual skills each pupil has mastered and what they are yet to master, still. Therefore, if teachers begin to regularly work with their individual groups more often then they will be able to offer more appropriate intervention, subsequently allowing them to share this vital data with other teachers.

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, EAL, Incentives, Independent Reading, Intervention, Library Use, Motivation, Progress, Progress Monitoring, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload, Student Engagement, Target Setting

A noticeable new reading culture

Dunstone Primary School, Plymouth

We spoke to Teaching Assistant (TA), Sally Geary, who has been with the school for twelve years. Sally was only recently appointed the primary contact for Accelerated Reader since January 2019. With the help of a team of dedicated TAs, Sally oversees the daily maintenance and effective administration of the Accelerated Reader and Star Reading programmes. The team have one goal, to help nurture a love of reading for all pupils. 

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Data Review, Incentives, Intervention, Library Use, Motivation, Parents, Progress, Progress Monitoring, Pupil Progress, Reading Age, Reading At Home, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, SATs, Student Engagement, Target Setting, Whole-School Literacy

After our school closed, the learning didn’t have to stop, thanks to myON by Renaissance

Miwada Gakuen, Tokyo, Japan

I found myON from Renaissance when I was looking for a digital book to improve students reading and listening as EFL learners. The sales representative was very helpful, and we were offered a trial period free of charge during remote learning due to pandemic.

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Independent Reading, Intervention, Progress Monitoring, Reading At Home, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Staff Engagement, Staff Workload, Student Engagement

Belvedere British School, UAE

Belvedere British School, UAE, United Arab Emirates

Talking Points: Assessment, Celebration, Data, Intervention, Motivation, Professional Development, Progress Monitoring, Reading Culture, Reading for Pleasure, Student Engagement

How we became a reading school

Swans International School, Marbella

Swans International School in Marbella, Spain, educates over 800 children of more than thirty nationalities, from EYFS all the way to Year 13. We spoke to Kate Ling, the librarian at Swans for over seven years – she’s been there for the initial implementation of Accelerated Reader through to its continued use today.

Talking Points: Attainment, Celebration, Library Use, Progress Monitoring, Reading Culture