Destination Reader (per school)

Introduction

Improving the teaching of reading at Key Stage 2

Does your school need:

• a consistent, structured approach to daily reading sessions at KS2?
• to improve teacher’s understanding of reading pedagogy at KS2? 
• more children reading for pleasure and purpose through an engaging and interactive approach? 
• to develop children’s deeper understanding of texts?

Destination Reader involves daily sessions incorporating whole class modelling prior to the children applying these skills through partner work and independent reading. Children deepen their understanding of the texts they read through the systematic use of a series of strategies and language stems. The approach encompasses the key principles of effective reading provision and fully meets the requirements of the National Curriculum. It also builds a culture of reading for pleasure and purpose.

Feedback from over 100 schools currently using Destination Reader has shown dramatic improvement in the quality of reading lessons at KS2. Children read with greater understanding, independence and, above all, enjoy reading more.

Product details

The approach encompasses the key principles of effective reading provision and fully meets the requirements of the National Curriculum by creating deep understanding of texts, developing oracy around reading and increasing breadth of reading. Destination Reader also helps to build a culture of reading for pleasure and purpose. The programme includes the following elements:

• one day of core leadership training (two delegates per school)
• package of programme materials
• access to school open sessions
• implementation support

We continue to support Destination Reader schools through an annual subscription which ensures access to termly forums for sharing practice, updated materials and curriculum resources.  

How Destination Reader was developed

Destination Reader is the result of a collaboration of a working party of practitioners from Hackney primary schools, facilitated by Hackney Learning Trust in 2014. These practitioners came together to enhance the reading provision within their schools at KS2 and to form an approach in line with the revised National Curriculum. They used an extensive range of research and literature related to best practice in reading and drew on their collective expertise in the field of reading to develop a classroom approach rooted in good reading pedagogy.

The approach was initially piloted in 6 schools and is now used in over 100 schools in London and the South East. There are hub schools in Hackney, Haringey and East Sussex who lead on continuous improvement of the approach and termly forums have provided opportunities to share and refine practice and maintain professional dialogue about current developments in reading.

Hackney Learning Trust

Hackney Learning Trust has a history of working collaboratively with early years settings, schools and academies to deliver outstanding results.

This year Hackney is the highest performing local authority in England in each of the core subjects of reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 1. This success continues at Key Stage 2 where we are the fifth highest ranking local authority at both the ‘expected level’ and ‘higher level’ thresholds in the combined reading, writing and maths indicator.Our results in the new Progress 8 measure also put us equal first in England.

Over the last 15 years, a number of effective approaches and programmes have been developed collaboratively by Hackney Learning Trust together with local schools to improve the teaching of and engagement with reading. These have been locally piloted and refined according to school feedback.

Testimonials

"Destination Reader has been a revelation. Our teachers feel clear, confident and inspired to teach reading. Our children say that they feel positive, motivated and not judged on their learning journey. If you want to raise attainment, have an approach to reading assessment that is fit for purpose, and create a rich culture of reading for pleasure - this is your answer!"
Debi Cookhorn, Assistant Headteacher, Millfields Primary School

Meet the team

Kathleen O'Connor is an Associate Deputy Headteacher with Hackney Learning Trust. She has been involved with Destination Reader since the initial working party and supports with the development of the approach, training and implementation visits.

Rosie Condon is an Associate Deputy Headteacher with Hackney Learning Trust and supports with the development of the approach, training and implementation visits.

John James Primrose is an Associate Deputy Headteacher with Hackney Learning Trust and supports with the development of the approach, training and implementation visits.