Evidence Based Programmes

Maths Recovery

Maths Recovery offers a unique approach to extending children’s number knowledge, understanding and strategies. The programme offers an extremely detailed profiles-based assessment of pupils in respect of these areas and provides a framework for individual, group or class-based instruction which is suitable not only for pupils who are experiencing difficulties but also for average and more able children. Maths Recovery involves intensive daily one-to-one lessons with a specially trained Maths Recovery teacher.

Reading Recovery

Reading Recovery is a licensed, school-based, short-term, early literacy intervention. It is designed for children aged around six who are struggling with literacy. Reading Recovery involves intensive one-to-one lessons several times a week with a specially trained Reading Recovery teacher. We currently have two Reading Recovery teachers on our staff. The goal is for children to become effective readers and writers, who are able to work within the average band of their class, at age-appropriate levels of literacy.

Power Hour

Throughout the year, our students in 1st & 2nd class participate in Power Hour (an intensive intervention of reading and writing based on the principles of Reading Recovery) with the class teacher and SET (Special Education Teacher) teachers.

During their block of Power Hour during the year, the class with their class teacher and SET teacher will work on literacy skills in small groups for an hour each day.

Small group literacy intervention has been shown to be particularly effective for children at this young age and all children participating in Power Hour are individually assessed by the SET Team before the programme starts in order to ascertain their instructional reading level.

In Power Hour, we use five stations – 2 reading stations, 1 handwriting station, 1 writing station and 1 station which deals with word work ie spellings, phonics, grammar etc.

There are many positive benefits to this type of approach to literacy. The children are given more opportunities to express themselves orally. Quieter children find their voices in a small group setting and children learning English gain confidence.

The teachers have a chance to assess individual needs and to get to know the children better. Small group supervision of writing and phonics/spellings encourages the children to focus and to take more care with their written work.

Ready Set Go

Ready Set Go Maths is a hands-on approach to learning mathematical concepts in Junior and Senior Infants. It is designed to enable children to develop and consolidate their understanding of numbers through activities and interactive games.

The Key message behind the programme is that children are engaged in active learning and there is an emphasis on the use of language to explain our mathematical thinking, what we are doing and why we are doing it. Ready, Set, Go Maths focuses on 4 main areas:

• Sorting
• Relationships and Operations
• Counting and Recognition
• Understanding Numbers

Classroom teachers work with the pupils in the class in smaller groups. Children work at a ‘station’, usually doing one activity per day. Activities generally involve working with concrete materials and playing games.