People, pedagogy and progress

We know our products and services will only work, and enable students to progress in Literacy and English, with input from experts and feedback from you, our teachers.

Skills for Writing

Alongside Professor Debra Myhill, we've developed Skills for Writing to provide an evidence-based approach to accelerating progress in writing at KS3, which:

  • Embeds the principles of the Grammar for Writing pedagogy
  • Teaches grammar in a contextualised way
  • Motivates your students to write independently

Read our case study

Learn about Skills for Writing

Bug Club Efficacy

Proven to significantly accelerate children's progress in reading, our primary reading scheme Bug Club has tried-and-tested methodologies at its heart. Learn more in our efficacy reports below. 

Efficacy studies
Teacher Partner Programme
Pedagogy

Recent news and blog posts

  • Are we missing a trick in primary assessment? with Jean Gross CBE

    What gets measured tends to get done. In primary schools this means a curriculum driven largely by English and maths.

    But perhaps assessment needs to help us look below the surface of these headline measures. Why? Consider these research findings:

    • Children with poor language at age five are six times less likely to reach the expected standard in literacy at age 11 than those with good language, and 11 times less likely to reach the expected standard in maths.
    • Children’s reading ability is dependent on their oral language skills – their vocabulary and language structures. The contribution of spoken language skills to reading is not confined to reading comprehension; it also predicts how easily they will learn phonics.
  • Power of Maths Spotlight... Improving accessibility for SEND learners

    Building independence through maths for every student
    By Karen McGuigan

    I was one of these children who just loved maths – even now I see it everywhere in life – but I know that’s not a talent most people have. Maths is so important. It helps us understand money, unpick practical things like our shopping and phone contracts, and make informed decisions.

    Yet the way most schools teach maths, especially to learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and additional needs, means many children are leaving education without the key maths skills they’ll need to live independently.

    In 2019, after working on maths with my then 7-year-old son who has Downs Syndrome, I started a programme called Maths For Life with the aim of creating a differentiated approach to the current maths curriculum; one that delivers essential maths that all children need for life. I believe what I’ve learned could really improve maths accessibility for every child, whatever their needs and ability.