We are absolutely delighted at the findings of a 10-month study carried out by the Open University, based on their study the Open University have included the following in their report about the UK Reading Road Map:
Download the Open University evaluation here
Recommendations – “On the basis of this evaluation, we perceive that the Reading Road Map is a rich resource for schools committed to developing children’s reading for pleasure. The carefully selected books are high quality, reflect a wide range, are well curated within the Maps, targeted appropriately at different age groups and have potential to engage and motivate young readers. The initiative offers schools significant support, potentially introducing both teachers and children to contemporary children’s writers and widening their repertoires and desire to read. Our recommendations for enhancing this popular and appealing initiative thus need to be read in this light.”
Teachers Opinions
“I love it! The children were so excited to receive a special selection of books and it was great to see books I hadn’t come across myself. A really nice range of difficulties and authors. Funny that one was actually part of the SATs Reading test this year!”
“More children are engaging with reading. Children are choosing more diverse books. Children read faster and consume more literature. Children are discussing the books with each other and comparing opinions. School is benefitting from having new additions to class library”
“Pupils have widened the range of genres they read. They are able to articulate their opinions about books they have read better. It has encouraged reluctant readers to read. It has raised the profile of reading in KS2”
Teachers - OFSTED
“You have introduced a change for pupils to read new stories from a range of authors to encourage them to read widely”
- Hargrave Park OFSTED Report
“The pupils with whom I spoke are very proud of the progress they are now making in reading and enjoy the range of books available to them. They explained that the ‘reading road map’ encourages them to read and also challenges them to read a range of books.”
- St Luke’s OFSTED Report
What is clear is that the RRM collection has encouraged children to read outside their ‘comfort zone’, to find new writers to enjoy, and to get into the habit of ‘dipping into’ different genres and ultimately reading more because of having a large number of well-curated new fiction made explicitly available to them. The initiative has been a resounding success.
- Eliza, English Lead at Christ The King
“The children are so keen to get their stickers and certificates and it’s encouraging more reading in many of our children.”
- Librarian at Montem School
“The Reading road map has really caught the children’s imagination and many have received stickers for their participation”
- Deputy Head Teacher – Hargrave Park
The children are really engaged with it and it has created a positive attitude to reading for pleasure. We have got the Year 5/6 children more engaged now with it by getting them to review their book through an emoji read. They select a chosen emoji to sum up the book and place it on the picture of the book which is a display I created in our Year 5/6 building
- English Lead at Sacred Heart School
“It’s honestly been great for the class, starting to see the benefits in their writing as well which is great news.”
- Year 5 teacher at St Mary’s Magdalene
Students
"I just realised that short books are really cool as well."
- Sophia Year 6
"The challenge told me not to judge a book by its cover because I used to just look at the book and when I went into reading random books it was fun. I hadn't read in a long time and it brought me back into the reading world."
- Abdulqadir Year 5
"I think this is one of the best challenges I've ever done. I really love reading. I'm glad there's this challenge, it's help me to get into different types of authors and books and makes me feel more me. It makes me feel better about me and brings out who I am."
- Deniz Year 5
“You don't compete with others, but with yourself to read better and more challenging books.”
- Meneksegul
"I think it's really fun. I like that we get to do it in school. The certificate and stickers help. I've had people come up to me and say well done you've read a book. It's encouraged me to read more."
- Lisa Year 5
"They should carry on doing it because it's really inspiring me to read when there's nothing to do. Because when there's nothing to do at home I pick up book from the reading road map and read. I didn't do that before."
- Yusuf Year 6
" I really like that there's a whole selection of books and that you don't have to read it all in one day. If you don't like it, it doesn't mean the book's bad it's just your opinion. I've tried different types of books that I wouldn't normally read."
- Sumayyah Year 6
“The Reading Road Map has been helping me to decide which book to read. You should use it if you want to read more.”
- Daniel Year 6
"It's really fun and encourages me to read more at home. It will help children to read more. I feel proud that I get to stand on stage and be given a certificate for what I have achieved."
- Malachi Year 5