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Information for Schools

The DART project involves three ‘work packages’ looking at different areas of reading

  • Decoding (Reception);
  • Sight-word learning (Year 3); and
  • Word learning (Year 4).

We are interested in these types of learning because they underpin different aspects of reading development at different stages: decoding for early reading, sight word learning for fluent reading and vocabulary for reading comprehension. There wouldn’t be any costs involved for the school. We will bring our own equipment and would just ask for some quiet space in school to work with the children.

Benefits to the school

  • The project team will provide data to the school that could help identify children who are at-risk for reading difficulties. This would include children’s scores on standardised tests of language and literacy, relative to age-related expectations. The exact test will depend on the children’s age.
  • The school will be offered official recognition of participation in research.
  • If successful, the DART screener will be evaluated and rolled-out on a national scale, giving the school an early opportunity to take part.

What is involved for children?

We are looking for children from diverse backgrounds, and will not look to exclude any children from taking part. Each child will work with a member of the project team, all of whom have experience working with children and are fully DBS checked. Children will take part in age-appropriate and engaging tasks which have been piloted on children of the same age.

Timescale

We aim to work with the three year groups in a staggered schedule:

  • April to July 2019 – Year 4
  • September to December 2019 – Reception
  • January to April 2020 – Year 3

We will work with children at two time points: the first as above, and the second one year later to measure the progress they have made.

At the first time point, assessments will be carried out over two separate sessions lasting around 30 minutes each (depending on the individual child). At the follow-up one year later we would only need to give one or two of the tasks so there will only be one session.