Marion Cochrane, QIO for Literacy in West Lothian, has just finished a ‘test of change’ using Reciprocal Reading strategies. Over four months last term, Marion worked with 2 schools in West Lothian. Targeted children were assessed last August using the PM Benchmarking Literacy Assessment Kit. The kit assesses decoding, phrasing and fluency and comprehension, giving an overall reading level.

Using a number of techniques including modelled, choral and shared reading and the comprehension strategies of predicting, clarifying, asking questions and summarising within a range of text types, Marion and the schools involved have shown an average net gain in reading of 12 months.