A TV programme will claim next week that old-fashioned methods of teaching reading and writing have proved highly successful for 30 children from a deprived West London housing estate.
Children aged seven to 12 from the Mozart Estate in Kilburn, who were given two weeks intensive training by Irina and George Tyk, improved dramatically, The Big Story will reveal on Thursday.
The couple, who run a similar, commercial course in Harrow, use the phonic teaching method, using text and no pictures.
Mrs Tyk, the headteacher of an independent prep school and author of the Butterfly reading book, concentrated on honing the technical skills of children who could not read while her linguist husband taught those who could read a little.
The Big Story, ITV, August 31, 7.30pm.