TextNow® in Wales

Posted 20.12.2010

TextNow®, Unitas’s motivational reading programme for reluctant readers aged 11-19, was successfully completed by 13 sites in Wales in 2010. This involved young people reading one-to-one with a reading coach for 20 minutes each weekday.

The sites piloted our new online training and Workflow Management System, and received a starter library and achievement awards for the young people in the form of vouchers they could exchange for books.

Improving reading motivation

By the end of the TextNow programme, sites were reporting great improvements in attitudes to reading; one Pupil Referral Unit commented that, "The books are gripping young people. One has started to read To Kill a Mockingbird and won’t put it down."

Another noted that young people were starting to ask to read specific books and that the programme had fitted in well to the routine of the whole centre.

Using peer coaches

In three secondary schools, Year 11 pupils took on the role of reading coach for younger students. One school commented on the bonds being formed between the peer coaches and younger students, "The older students are chatting to the younger ones and helping them in ways other than literacy."

There are many benefits to using peer coaches in the TextNow programme and the support given by peer reading coaches can also provide evidence for the Community Participation element of the Welsh Baccalaureate.

Using volunteer coaches

In Wrexham, volunteers from the Wrexham Youth Offending Team (YOT), took on the reading coach role at a local school. Vicki Lindley-Jones, from Wrexham Youth Offending Team, coordinated a team of YOT volunteers to go into St Christopher’s Special School to read one-to-one with pupils.

A special event was held at the end of the programme for pupils, staff, coaches and parents to celebrate the young people’s achievements, not only in improving their reading skills but, just as importantly, in increasing their enjoyment of books.

Jeff Eggington, the teacher who selected students for the TextNow programme, said that its ultimate success was down to the relationships that were built between coaches, pupils and school staff.

TextNow is running again in Wales and England. For more information, visit the TextNow section or contact Jane Dixon on jane.dixon@unitas.uk.net.