This test is suitable for any child whose ability to recognise, and read, high frequency words is affecting their fluency in reading. It is especially useful for children in Key Stage 1 and 2, but could also be useful for older children, who find reading difficult. The words, on the list, are those which appear most often in texts. This test was used as part of the “Improving Reading Accuracy, and Comprehension, Programme Outline” and the “National Curriculum linked Grapheme-Phoneme Reading Test”

This resource contains a list of words, which are related to the National Curriculum Appendix 1, for Key Stage 1 and 2. The list is useful for assessing the ability of children to read words containing the Grapheme-Phoneme correspondences outlined in the National Curriculum. The test can be used to identify sounds which the child does not yet know, which they can be taught. For this reason, it is especially useful w here a child is not making progress in their ability to read accurately. Once a sound, or group of sounds, has been identified as being unrecognised by the child, they can be the focus of any teaching. This test can form the first step in an Assessment, Plan, Do and Review cycle. The test was used as part of the programme outlined in “Improving Reading Accuracy, and Comprehension, Programme Outline”

This resource contains examples of baseline assessment tables, and an example of how this translates into a four week plan for a group of children. A plan for one week’s sessions, demonstrates how teaching targets, and group plans translate into individualised teaching points. Two examples of Most Common Word Teaching Resources are included, as is a Question Word, and Answer, Prompt Sheet. These could be used with the resource “An Effective Proven Reading Intervention Programme”, or as separate items. The process of breaking down the results of baseline assessments, of reading, into individual lesson outlines, may be useful for teachers, and TAs.

For many years, I taught the Long Vowel/ Vowel Digraph sounds as separate entities e.g. speed, fight. When teaching a group of KS2 pupils, who found phonics something of a difficulty, I tried to find a different way of teaching this subject. Looking carefully, again, at these words, and studying the “rules” which governed when to use each one, I found a logical way of selecting which spelling was to be used in different situations. The work was not a quick-fix, but this approach was very successful. This download includes the knowledge which the child needs, in order to be able to use this approach. It also provides examples of follow-up sheets and post- teaching assessments. Word lists, spelling sheets and advice are also included. A pre-teaching assessment is included, to assess the child’s ability to read and spell words from this group.

This intervention can be used with children from Key Stage 1 and 2. It can also be used with children in secondary schools, who have difficulty reading. The programme can be administered by teachers, or a TA, with teacher support. The programme focuses on the development of reading accuracy and comprehension. The success of the intervention, and proof of success, relies on a detailed assessment of need. Related assessment resources are being added to the TES website. The process of Assess, plan, do , review, is consistent with the cycle outlined in The Code of Practice.