SHINE: Support and Help in Education - 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.

Springboard

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 writing tests during the year.

100% of children who attend Springboard have some level of special educational need
78% of children exceeded teacher expectations in reading and in spelling

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 and replication costs. Additional funding is secured through school contributions and a range of fundraising initiatives and other grant applications.

Funding: Ł501,582 to Springboard for Children, over nine years (2000-08)

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."