A WEST Devon teacher was recently awarded a special certificate after taking part in a pioneering reading programme targeting some of the least able six-year-olds in Devon schools. Alison Carter of St Andrew?s School in Buckland Monachorum has just updated her Reading Recovery qualifications. The Reading Recovery programme, which involves intensive, one-to-one teaching, has proved highly successful ? children who experienced 38 hours of specialised teaching improved their reading age by an average of two years as a result of the scheme. The eleven newly qualified Reading Recovery teachers and eight who have updated their qualifications were presented with their certificates by Devon County Council chief executive Phil Norrey at a special ceremony. Dr Norrey said: ?It is estimated nationally six per cent of children leave primary school each year well below the expected literacy level for their age. ?That means they often struggle in secondary school and do not obtain the qualifications they need to get a fulfilling job. ?Reading Recovery allows children to make great progress in their reading and there is considerable evidence to show they maintain that progress throughout their school careers and carry on developing with their peers.? Devon is the only education authority in the far South West to have been invited to take part in the project.
