LIFT Programme

Monday 28 February 2011

Our accelerated Literacy Programme LIFT (Learning in the Fast Track) is an access programme run in Year 7 for identified pupils with literacy difficulties.

These pupils meet any two of the following criteria - reading accuracy, reading comprehension and spelling ages of below 8.06 years - when assessed by the SENCO of Cirencester Deer Park School in May of their year of entry. The pupils should also be working at a low level 3 English National Curriculum level. There are currently 19 places available on the Programme each year.

The foundation stone of the programme is Ruth Miskin's Synthetic Phonic Programme 'Read Write Inc Fresh Start'. Staff delivering the programme have attended Read Write Inc training. The school has been recognised by Read Write Inc as a 'School of Excellence' for Read Write Inc and the SENCO will mentor, on request, colleagues from other Secondary Schools who are embarking on the Read Write Inc Programme.

There are two levels of LIFT:

• 
  Pupils on the Basic LIFT Programme are withdrawn from their modern foreign languages lessons (6 hours a fortnight) and work in a small group with the SENCO and/or other Learning Support staff in a small group of 4-6 pupils. The pupils spend 5 hours a fortnight working on the development of their literacy skills and 1 hour a fortnight learning some basic French.
• Pupils on the Intensive LIFT Programme are withdrawn from their modern foreign language and History lessons (9 hours a fortnight) and work in a small group with the SENCO and/or other Learning Support staff in a small group of 4-6 pupils. The pupils spend 7 hours a fortnight working on the development of their literacy skills, 1 hour a fortnight learning some basic French and 1 hour a fortnight working through a condensed History scheme of learning.

This successful Programme has been running for five years.

The pupils make good to outstanding progress as can be seen from the data for the Year 7 LIFT pupils in 2009-2010:

• Average gain in reading comprehension age was 14 months. Highest gain 41 months. 12 out of 24 pupils made more than 12 months progress.
• Average gain in reading word accuracy age was 22 months. Highest gain 48 months. 14 out of 24 pupils made more than 12 months progress.
• Average gain in spelling age was 12 months. Highest gain 33 months. 11 out of 24 pupils made more than 12 months progress.
• All pupils made progress

The aim of the LIFT Programme is to develop the pupils literacy skills to a functional level. The exit point for Year 7s is a reading and spelling age of 9.06+ years. Last year 15 out of 24 pupils met the criteria to exit LIFT in Year 7. A small group of pupils who require further work on the development of their literacy skills remain on a condensed LIFT+ Programme in Year 8.

The pupils enjoy LIFT lessons. Here are a few of their comments:

"I'm being learned how to learn"
"We have more time and can work slower"
"There are not so many of us, so you can concentrate more"
"You can make mistakes and no-one laughs at you"
"Small group so you get 1:1 time"
"The fun things we do with teachers"
"Being able to join in as there are not so many people"

The programme is co-ordinated by the SENCO Jane Coull. Please contact her by email stjcoull@deerparkschool.net if you have any questions.

Related Links:

• Read Write Inc