BESA CORNER
This month, in our ongoing feature highlighting the work of members of the UK education suppliers’ trade body BESA, we hear from READING SOLUTIONS UK and SCHOOLS BROADBAND.
Discover how reading outcomes have improved at New Road Primary thanks to Reading Plus
Reading Solutions UK met with Hannah James (HJ), English and KS2 Lead at New Road Primary, Kent, to see how the online reading development programme, Reading Plus, has impacted pupil, school, and Ofsted outcomes.
Why was your school looking for a reading programme? HJ: “Reading has always been our weakness. We’ve consistently scored lower in reading than in any other subject.
“We decided to choose Reading Plus because it was personalised for our pupils’ reading, had engaging texts, and provided
insight into where pupils were and how their reading was developing. “We also liked that there were a lot of texts on the programme linked to curriculum areas.”
How have you implemented the programme? HJ: “Pupils use Reading Plus within the school timetable and can use it at home for pleasure. One of the benefits is that if pupils aren’t in, it’s easy for them to catch up because the programme stays as they left it. “We use Reading Plus in Y3 through to Y6 – although not all pupils in Y3 access it. Y3 and Y4 access Reading Plus every day after lunch for about 30 minutes. Y5 and Y6 use the programme three times per week for about 40 minutes.”
What features do you like best?
“There are many features we like about the programme, but mostly the baseline assessment and the high-level data available.
“The level of detail the programme gives you about each child provides a clear insight into their reading development. We can see pupils’ reading levels and how secure they are in comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. From this, we can see which pupils need additional support and in which reading domain. We use this data to plan intervention groups. As a subject leader, having all that data readily available to monitor pupils’ progress is excellent. “We had Ofsted recently, and they really liked all these aspects of Reading Plus.”
How has Reading Plus impacted school outcomes? HJ: “Our pupils have a very low cultural capital, and when Ofsted came to visit, they liked Reading Plus because the texts on Reading Plus broadened pupils’ understanding. They offer viewpoints of different places in the world, varying topic matters, traditional stories, etc.
“The range of informational and non-fiction texts help build cross-curricular knowledge. So much so that in history lessons, many children already understand the topic because they have read about it on Reading Plus. One child shouted, “Did you know Alexander the Great did this, and this?” It made the lesson because he was contributing things, but it was knowledge he had acquired from Reading Plus.”
How does Reading Plus support teaching: HJ: “One of the benefits of having a whole class Reading Plus sessions is that it frees up the teacher’s time. That’s when we can do our one-to-one reading with the pupils.
“We can concentrate on providing individual support knowing that the rest of the class is independently reading age-appropriate texts and answering comprehension questions at their ability level.” What results have you experienced? HJ: “Reading Plus has massively helped pupils develop their confidence and skills. We’ve always scored lowest in reading in SATs, so we started using Reading Plus with our Y4s and Y5s to prepare them for a Y6 curriculum, and last year was the first year we got higher in reading than anything else. These pupils experienced the lockdowns, so we were over the moon!” For more information on Reading Plus or to try a free four-week pilot at no obligation, please call 0191 389 6078, email
info@readingsolutionsuk.com or visit
www.readingsolutionsuk.com
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www.education-today.co.uk
It’s all change for school phone systems
We’re all familiar with the copper wire telephone network: in use since 1876, it’s kept school and business communications’ going for years. But that’s all about to change.
In 2025, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) will be switched off by BT
Openreach. Everyone, including schools, currently using PSTN- based phone services will need to take steps to ensure they have a functioning phone system ready in time for the switch-off. PSTN services are already starting to be decommissioned.
The alternative? Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a solution that transmits voice, or phone calls as we know it, and data using an internet connection. Schools will need to start preparing now for the mass migration to VoIP phone services, set to replace all legacy PSTN services in just over 18 months. 12 million lines need to be moved by 2025. It is a massive undertaking; therefore, schools will need to start planning any service switches as soon as possible. There are benefits to switching to a VoIP phone service, however. As VoIP services run over an internet connection, no PSTN line rental is required, which can help schools save money. Call costs are also significantly reduced.
It could be that your existing phone system is already compatible. Ask your provider to check or contact Schools Broadband who will be happy to advise you. If your equipment is not compatible, you will need a new VoIP service, or some providers may be able to upgrade your current telephone system with a small SIP plug-in gateway so that it is SIP compatible; another internet protocol (IP) based phone service.
Schools that have already made the switch to a newer phone system may still need to make some changes to ensure their systems are compatible with the new network. Schools should consult with their service provider to determine the best course of action.
VoIP services are easy to use and are generally straight-forward to configure. They feel just like using a traditional phone; the difference being they can save you money and they use incredibly advanced technology, allowing you to operate in new ways. VoIP phone services come with a comprehensive range of features which could help schools improve operational efficiencies, for example, some providers offer free UK, landline and mobile calls, voicemail to email, auto-attendant, mobile integration, and emergency broadcasts are just a few of the many features this type of phone services provides.
As demand on your school internet connection will be greater as a result of you switching to VoIP, together with increased demands on services for everything from utilising smart technology, keeping your students, staff and premises secure, to facilitating video conferencing, video streaming etc., it may be a good idea to contact an education-based Internet Service Provider for advice on what broadband speeds might be suitable for your size of school or Multi Academy Trust, especially if you are switching to a VoIP phone service.
For more information, help or guidance please contact Schools Broadband: 01133 222 333 (Option 3) or
Info@schoolsbroadband.co.uk
June 2023
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