Springboard
What a difference a year can make. Springboard helps over 300 children every year; almost all have fallen seriously behind and some are making no progress at all. Using specialist literacy tutors and trained volunteers, Springboard identifies each child’s specific problems and works with them individually twice a week, every week. Time and again, children like Matthew make incredible progress and catch up with their classmates, ready to take their learning to the next level.
The grant recipient
The Springboard for Children charity works with primary schools in areas where there is high unemployment and crime, inadequate housing and where literacy standards are very poor.
the Springboard programme
What it aims to do
- improve the reading and writing levels of children who are severely behind
- give children every chance of succeeding at school
How it works
Springboard for Children sends teams of paid literacy tutors and trained volunteers into primary schools to meet with children who are falling seriously behind. They identify each child's difficulties and work with them on a structured phonics-based programme. Children receive two 45 minutes sessions each week throughout the school year. They are taught one-to-one or in small groups.
Results
The majority of children referred to Springboard for Children are over two years behind and some have come to a complete standstill in the classroom. They are given a full assessment when they start the programme and reading and spelling tests during the year.
- 100% of children who attend Springboard have some level of special educational need.
- 66% of children achieve reading levels above those predicted by their school.
The funding and replication
SHINE made an initial grant to fund Springboard for Children's work in three schools in Southwark and has given ongoing funding for their expansion. Springboard now supports over 350 children a year from schools in Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham, Islington and Manchester.
SHINE grants have covered set up, delivery, infrastructure, replication and research costs. Additional funding is secured through school contributions and a range of fundraising initiatives and other grant applications.
Funding: £500,000 to Springboard for Children, over nine years (2000-09)
Visit Springboard's website: http://www.springboard.org.uk
"I like Springboard because they learn you good and they learn you vowels."
Pupil, Springboard
"Those struggling to access the curriculum are finally getting the structured help that they need."
Lecturer, Institute of Education, London
"Their results... prove their methods are very effective in raising the educational attainment of children who find learning extremely difficult."
Course Tutor, Dyslexia Institute
"Generally they are one to two years behind in their reading or spelling. Within a term you are already seeing the confidence, they are putting their hand up in the classroom. They've gone up five, six, seven - even eight - months, just in a term."
Teacher
"Before I went to Springboard I was struggling, life was topsy-turvy. I needed help with my literacy but thanks to Springboard now I'm in top set for everything."
Springboard Student
Quotes
"I like Springboard because they learn you good and they learn you vowels."
Pupil, Springboard
"Those struggling to access the curriculum are finally getting the structured help that they need."
Lecturer, Institute of Education, London
"Their results... prove their methods are very effective in raising the educational attainment of children who find learning extremely difficult."
Course Tutor, Dyslexia Institute
"Generally they are one to two years behind in their reading or spelling. Within a term you are already seeing the confidence, they are putting their hand up in the classroom. They've gone up five, six, seven - even eight - months, just in a term."
Teacher
"Before I went to Springboard I was struggling, life was topsy-turvy. I needed help with my literacy but thanks to Springboard now I'm in top set for everything."
Springboard Student