Ruth Miskin Fresh Start at Chantry Middle School
At Chantry Middle School, we are committed to ensuring that every pupil develops the essential literacy skills they need to succeed both in school and beyond. To support this, we deliver the Ruth Miskin Fresh Start programme to selected pupils in Years 5 to 8.
Fresh Start is a highly structured phonics-based reading and writing intervention programme, specifically designed for older pupils who need extra support with their literacy. It uses engaging, age-appropriate materials while following a systematic approach to teaching phonics, helping pupils to build confidence and improve their reading fluency, comprehension, spelling, and writing skills.
How Fresh Start Works at Chantry Middle School
Pupils identified as benefiting from additional literacy support take part in regular, small-group Fresh Start sessions. These sessions:
- Focus on revising and securing essential phonics knowledge.
- Help pupils to decode unfamiliar words and develop reading fluency.
- Include writing tasks linked to the texts read, encouraging pupils to apply their phonics knowledge in their spelling and writing.
- Build vocabulary and comprehension skills through discussion and guided reading activities.
Sessions are led by trained members of staff and are tailored to meet the specific needs of each group. Progress is carefully monitored to ensure pupils are making measurable gains in their reading and writing confidence.
The Impact
We have already seen positive outcomes for pupils accessing the Fresh Start programme at Chantry Middle School. Pupils are not only making good progress in their reading accuracy and fluency but also developing greater confidence and enjoyment in reading for pleasure and in accessing texts across the curriculum.
By using Ruth Miskin Fresh Start, we aim to close the literacy gap for our pupils and provide them with the tools they need to thrive both academically and personally.
