FFT Reciprocal Reading

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

Play our introduction video

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

  • 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 over the course of 12-16 weeks

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 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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How can schools use Reciprocal Reading?

For schools wishing to access Reciprocal Reading outside of our EEF trial, we have a limited-time offer for 40 schools to work with us.

Limited-time 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

£1500

with a discount for small schools

+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 book the programme, or to find out more, get in touch today.
Get in touch
We will run more online training dates, with increased capacity, next academic year, following the EEF trial completion.

What does the limited-time package include?

Over 90% subsidised

Only

£215

£2800

The normal cost for FFT Reciprocal Reading is £2800. But with a 90%+ research subsidy your school pays only £215. (Current trial now fully recruited.)
Learn more at a webinar

Training

Two full-day online training days for a School Coordinator and two teachers or TAs.

Support

Two online support meetings with an FFT Literacy Advisor to support the development of practice (60 mins each).

Guides

Digital and printed copies of Practical, Management, Strategies and Planning Guides, 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.

What schools are saying

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

    Find out more about Reciprocal Reading

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    Privacy notice
    Alternatively you can phone us on 01446 776262 (option 5) or email reciprocalreading@fft.org.uk
    Find out more about our current EEF trial