Reciprocal Reading

Improves pupils’ reading comprehension by +2 months or more*

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Also includes
Reading Assessment Programme
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What is Reciprocal Reading?

Strategy

  • A structured, discussion-based approach to teaching reading comprehension
  • Develops children's understanding of a text
  • Uses four strategies: predict, clarify, question and summarise
  • Children use these strategies to make sense of what they read and become more confident, independent readers

Delivery

  • As an intervention model, delivered to small groups (4-8 pupils) with a trained teacher or teaching assistant
  • Reciprocal Reading sessions run at least twice a week for 20-30 minutes
  • Can be used as a whole class, cross-curricular or intervention approach

The evidence

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

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
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EEF Promising Programme

Independently shown to improve children's and young people's attainment cost-effectively.
More
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How can schools use Reciprocal Reading?

KS2 & KS3 package

  • Two full-day online training sessions with follow-up support meetings
  • Guides to support the effective implementation of Reciprocal Reading
  • Copies of FFT's 'A Selection of Stories'
  • Online access to example plans, videos, text suggestions, book journals
  • A Facebook group for networking and school support

From

£1000

depending on the size of your school

+VAT

or

Bespoke one-day CPD

  • One-day training session
  • Face-to-face at your school
  • Guides to support the effective implementation of Reciprocal Reading
  • Online access to example plans, videos, text suggestions, book journals
  • A Facebook group for networking and school support

From

£750

+VAT

To find out more, book onto one of our upcoming webinars!

What does the package include?

Training

Two full-day training days with the option of online or face-to-face for unlimited members of staff and an on-demand, modular approach for the second training day.

Support

The option of a one-to-one, 45-minute, online support meeting with an FFT Literacy Advisor.

Guides

Digital as well as five printed copies of a Reciprocal Reading Guide, along with copies of FFT's 'A Selection of Short Stories'.

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
Reading Assessment Programme

What schools are saying

Children are interested in reading

One of the main benefits of Reciprocal Reading is developing confidence. Confidence to articulate opinions, to talk about the text. The ability to listen to each other and to reflect and be able to question things; not just accept but interrogate things and move into more depth.

We've seen progress in children’s interest in reading - they are much more interested to look at a wider range of texts.

Julie Sutton

Headteacher, Sunnyside Primary Academy

Children build confidence

Children really enjoy the sessions – they’re so keen to attend and ask if they are going.

All children have the confidence to make contributions.

Fiona Sudgen

Senior Teaching Assistant, Co-op Academy Nightingale

Develops pleasure for reading

Children are enthralled! Children did reading because they had to, but now they really enjoy picking up a book and reading!

Reciprocal Reading really develops pleasure for reading.

Matthew Brazener

Teaching Assistant, Hempshill Hall Primary School

Massive change

It's like a spark has been lit, the change is massive!

The boys are now making their own book.

One boy's mum has said he is a different child and wants to read at home! He has got his own notebook to write down his 'clarify'!

Mandy Child

Teaching Assistant, Whitecote Primary School

Made my teaching better

A child specifically said she has got her love of reading back because of Reciprocal Reading!

It has made my teaching better.

Kelly Scott

Higher Level Teaching Assistant, Fairfield Primary School

Accessible to all children

Guided reading teaching in the past has been very scripted. I love this because you can just pick it up and run with it!

I find that it's accessible to all children as any barriers can easily be removed.

Mandy Hyde

Educational Teaching Assistant, Thornhill Junior and Infant School

Confidence and independence

Without question, Reciprocal Reading has had (and continues to have) the biggest impact on my teaching. More than that, however, is the difference it has made to our children, not only in the strategies they harness to analyse a text, but the confidence and independence it gives them. It is clear that they love Reciprocal and it has been a huge part of promoting their love of reading too!

Allison Reed

Upper Key Stage 2 Team Lead, Sunnyside Primary Academy