SHINE: Support and Help in Education - Literacy - Some of SHINE's most important projects provide essential extra one-to-one support for young children who are seriously struggling to read and write - basic skills that hold the key to their future engagement and achievement at school.

Literacy is the most basic building block in education. Yet a child qualifying for free school meals has twice the chance of being one of the 35,000 children every year who leave primary school completely unable to read or write properly. Studies show that only 1-2% of them will go on to achieve five good GCSEs.

To tackle this problem, SHINE funds a variety of programmes aimed at improving literacy and communication skills. Some provide intensive, individual tuition to help struggling children get back on track; some use ICT in a fun, structured and challenging way to help failing children improve their skills and boost their confidence; others work with parents and carers to ensure they have the skills to help their children read.

Please click on one of the options below.

Springboard

Teams of paid literacy tutors and trained volunteers go into primary schools in extremely disadvantaged areas to work with children who are falling seriously behind at reading and writing. more >

Every Child a Reader

A Ł10 million partnership between charities, the business sector and government that is funding highly skilled Reading Recovery teachers in inner-city schools to provide intensive help to children with severe literacy difficulties. more >

DigiSmart

After-school workshops that use the internet in a structured and fun way and provide specialist tuition each week for two terms every year for children who are struggling to keep up with their peers. more >

BAAF

Developing a new training programme for foster carers that will give more primary school children in foster care the opportunity to achieve their full potential at school. more >

That Reading Thing

Intensive one-to-one literacy support for teenagers in Bethnal Green who are severely behind in their reading and writing. more >

A Chance to Talk

A three year pilot project that is using language specialists and volunteers to develop new models for teaching communication skills to 4-7 year olds. more >

Debate Mate

Using formal, structured argument to help secondary students develop their reasoning skills, communication and confidence in a fun, yet challenging, way. more >