Stop giving every learner the same literacy solution

Bedrock Learning

Duration: 45:23

How to identify the real barrier to reading - and what to do next

Most literacy strategies fail for one simple reason:

They do not start with the barrier.

In this live session, we will show you how to:

identify what is actually limiting reading in your school
decide when intervention is still needed - and when it is not
ensure all learners build the language and knowledge needed to access the curriculum

The problem

Schools should not give every learner the same literacy solution.

Yet this happens every day.

We see:

intervention used long after the barrier has been addressed
reading data collected, but not used to guide decisions
‘reading for pleasure’ expected to solve curriculum access
no clear model for teaching academic language across subjects

The result is predictable:

Time is spent. Effort is high. Impact is limited.

The shift

Reading is not a generic skill.

It depends on:

secure decoding and fluency
background knowledge
vocabulary
disciplinary literacy

That is why the starting point must be a decision process, not a programme.

In this session, we will walk through a simple decision tree and show how to apply it in practice.

What you’ll learn

You will leave with a clear, usable model.

We will cover how to:

obtain and use standardised reading comprehension data
diagnose whether the barrier is word reading, comprehension, or both
reserve phonics and fluency intervention for the pupils who need it
avoid reapplying intervention once the barrier is secure
move to quality first teaching of academic language for all learners

Who this is for

Headteachers
Deputy Heads (curriculum / standards)
English and literacy leads
MAT leaders

Why attend

This is not a product demonstration.

It is a practical session to help you:

identify whether your current approach matches the barrier
avoid misdirected intervention
strengthen whole-school literacy through academic language

Speakers

Olivia Sumpter

Director of Education

As Director of Education, Olivia has overseen Bedrock's curriculum design and content since its inception. With a focus on research-informed principles, Olivia leads the teaching and learning team, aiming to maximise Bedrock’s impact with our partner schools. Her commitment to adapting the platform to meet schools’ needs has led to its continuous evolution.

Tim Mills MBE

Dr

Dr Tim Mills MBE is a DfE RISE Adviser and former Executive Director of Primary Education at STEP Academy Trust. He led the expert panel and was lead drafter of the Department for Education’s Writing Framework, and was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours 2024 for services to education.

Tim is a visiting professor at Coventry University and has advised on national literacy work, including the DfE’s Early Reading Framework and primary writing. His published research includes Reading for Pleasure - A Silver Bullet or a Wild Goose Chase?, which challenges narrow assumptions about reading for pleasure and argues for a richer view of reading rooted in fluency, knowledge, purpose, and fulfilment.

He brings a rare combination of school leadership, national policy work, and research-informed literacy expertise to the session.