To help you deliver the course we have provided guidance on how to use the video and you will also find some attachments in the Appendices that are accompanying this Guide that provide suggestions on how to informally screen for children with RAN weaknesses. This provides early identification of those at risk of future reading difficulties so interventions can be put in place quickly (Appendix 3)

A list of the included material:

PA Video

‘How To: Guide’

APPENDIX 1: Hand out: Sample Phonological Awareness Assessment

APPENDIX 2: Pause Points/Reflective Exercise for Class Teachers

APPENDIX 3: Pause Points/Reflective Exercise for Teaching Assistants

A complete downloadable guide which has been designed to accompany the video is available inside the members area after purchase. 

The Purpose Of This Course

The overall purpose of the ‘Foundations of Literacy Development’ course and ‘How To’ guide is to increase awareness of the importance of both Phonological Awareness (PA) and Rapid Automatic Naming (RAN)  as foundations of early literacy development and help staff to identify the children that may require early additional input or, if older struggling readers, may need input into these foundation areas  in order to make phonics interventions more effective.

Phonological Awareness (PA) and Rapid Automatic Naming (RAN) are available as individual courses or can purchased together at a discounted rate.  

SENDCo or School Leader:

The guide and video may be used to increase awareness of RT for:

• A group of Class Teachers (CT) in KS1, KS2 or KS3 and KS4

• A group of TAs working with older struggling readers in KS2 or KS3/4

• Whole staff development in a staff meeting where increasing reading comprehension is the focus

• Individual members of staff such as NQTs or staff members who missed out on group training. In those situations, we highly recommend having at least two people watching the video together

and going through the discussion points with a Learning Partner.

• A group of parents as part of a workshop on supporting literacy at home. If this is the case then a shorter section of the video may be selected

USE OF THE COURSE IN WHOLE SCHOOL STAFF MEETINGS

The video is only 10 minutes in length and is intended to act as a tool to stimulate thought and discussion. If shown in a whole staff meeting, it can be seen as a starting point for discussion about how well the school currently Reciprocal Teaching Introduction:

You may still want to pause the video at certain points depending on how much time you have allocated. You may want to pick out one or two Pause Points that may be particularly relevant to your context.