Reciprocal Reading
Improves pupils’ reading comprehension by +2 months or more*
Also includes
Reading Assessment Programme
Play our introduction video
What is Reciprocal Reading?
Strategy
- A structured, discussion-based approach to teaching reading comprehension
- Develops pupils' understanding of a text
- Uses four strategies: predict, clarify, question and summarise
- Pupils use these strategies to make sense of what they read and become more confident, independent readers
Delivery
- Can be used with any text, any size group, any attainment of pupil and in any subject
- As an intervention model, delivered to small groups (4-8 pupils), with sessions running at least twice a week for 20-30 minutes.
- Can also be used as a whole class or cross-curricular, with flexible timings that amount to twice a week cumulatively
The evidence - first trial 2019 (report published)
Improving reading comprehension and overall reading
98
schools
*EEF funded an efficacy trial and independent evaluation with 98 schools and 5,222 pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6.
+2
months
Children using Reciprocal Reading as a targeted intervention made +2 months' additional progression in reading comprehension and overall reading compared to the control group.
FSM
pupils
The intervention had an even larger positive impact with disadvantaged children eligible for free school meals.
Trialled by
FFT Reciprocal Reading - second trial 2026 (report published)
EEF effectiveness trial
The EEF Reciprocal Reading trial confirmed a positive impact, with pupils making one month's additional progress on average — and up to two months for those who completed the full programme of 20 or more sessions.
Pupil engagement was consistently high, with teachers reporting increased confidence following training.
Pupils: 3600
Schools: 300
Duration: 12 weeks
For whom is Reciprocal Reading suitable?
This intervention is suitable for Key Stage 2 & 3 pupils who:
- Can decode, but struggle to understand texts
- Read very slowly because they are focusing on accurate decoding or read too fast and don’t pay attention to what they are reading
- Lack confidence when reading new or unfamiliar texts and have a limited reading repertoire
- Have impaired understanding through limited understanding of vocabulary
- Read text avidly but never question the meaning of words
Choose a school
Get to know some of the FFT Partner Schools improving their literacy.
What is a Partner School?
How can schools use Reciprocal Reading?
KS2 & KS3 package
- Two full-day, online, on-demand training sessions with follow-up support meetings
- Guides to support the effective implementation of Reciprocal Reading
- Copies of FFT's 'A First Selection of Stories', with full planning
- Online access to example plans, videos, text suggestions, book journals
- A Facebook group for networking and school support
| Size of school | Price |
|---|---|
| Half form | £900 |
| 1 form | £1,100 |
| 2+ forms | £1,350 |
What does the package include?
Training
Over two full days' worth of training, with the option of attending live elements or accessing modules fully on-demand. Training is for unlimited staff members, at any time across the subscription.
Support
The option of a one-to-one, 30-minute, online support meeting with an FFT Literacy Advisor.
Guides
Digital as well as five printed copies of a Reciprocal Reading Guide, two anthologies with texts suitable for reading ages 7-11.
Resources
Exclusive access to an online portal containing video examples, planning for various year groups, text suggestions and supporting resources.
Also included
Reading Assessment Programme
Free access to our Reading Assessment Programme, where you can assess your pupils’ key reading skills to help with intervention screening.
Learn more
