Developing confident practitioners to support struggling readers.
Literacy Skills for Primary is a year-long professional development programme designed to equip teaching assistants and literacy mentors with the knowledge, practical skills and resources to support pupils who are experiencing difficulties with early literacy and reading.
The course focuses on identifying and addressing gaps in pupils’ literacy development, with particular emphasis on phonics, word reading, fluency, spelling, vocabulary and comprehension. Mentors develop a clear understanding of how children learn to read and how to plan and deliver targeted, systematic intervention that responds to individual needs.
The training combines face-to-face and online sessions with opportunities to apply learning in school. Mentors receive ongoing support to assess pupils, plan appropriate intervention, monitor progress and adapt teaching in response to pupil needs.
The programme is particularly suited to teaching assistants, higher-level teaching assistants and staff who have responsibility for delivering targeted literacy intervention.
The programme includes:
- Understanding the development of early literacy and reading
- Assessing pupils to identify specific gaps and barriers to progress
- Developing secure knowledge of phonics and word reading
- Supporting pupils to develop fluency, accuracy and confidence
- Developing vocabulary and comprehension alongside word reading
- Selecting and using appropriate texts and resources
- Planning structured, individualised intervention sessions
- Using assessment information to inform teaching and measure progress
- Developing effective questioning, modelling and scaffolding
- Supporting pupils to become more independent and confident readers
- Monitoring progress and adapting intervention accordingly
- Practical opportunities to apply and reflect on learning in school
Course structure
The programme consists of 20 half-day training sessions, delivered through a combination of face-to-face and online training, alongside school-based support and observation.
Participants will leave the programme with the knowledge, practical strategies and confidence to deliver a structured, evidence-informed literacy intervention tailored to the needs of individual pupils.
Intended impact:
To enable schools to develop a skilled and confident literacy intervention workforce, ensuring that pupils who are struggling with literacy receive consistent, targeted and effective support to accelerate their progress.
What are the benefits to practice?
Participants will develop the practical knowledge, skills and confidence to:
- Deliver structured, targeted literacy intervention that responds to individual pupil needs.
- Use assessment effectively to identify gaps and inform next steps in teaching.
- Apply evidence-informed approaches to develop phonics, word reading, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
- Plan and deliver purposeful one-to-one intervention sessions with clear learning objectives.
- Adapt teaching, modelling and scaffolding in response to pupil progress and difficulties.
- Monitor and evaluate pupil progress, using assessment information to refine intervention.
- Build pupils’ confidence, independence and engagement with reading.
- Work more effectively with class teachers and other school staff to support pupils’ literacy development.
- Develop a consistent and sustainable approach to literacy intervention within the school.
- Increase the capacity of school staff to provide high-quality support for pupils who are struggling with literacy.
Which aspects of provision does this course cover?
- Achievement: considering how pupil progress and academic outcomes are measured and tracked
Who should attend?
- Teaching and Learning Support Assistants
Testimonial
“On behalf of our team, we would like to sincerely thank you for your continuous support and for organising such inspiring events that promote a love of reading while providing valuable strategies to motivate students.
We feel that we have grown professionally through your guidance on how best to support reading with EAL, and we continue to benefit from the tips, strategies, and encouragement you so thoughtfully share. Even from afar, your unwavering care and support is reflected on our daily work with our students.”
Contact information
For specific enquiries about this course, please contact Louise Harding at louise.harding@bdsip.co.uk
For general booking or CPD enquiries please contact CPDEvents@bdsip.co.uk
Cancellation Policy
- No refund will be received for places cancelled within 5 working days of the session.
- Schools will receive a 50% refund for places cancelled within 10 working days of the session.
