The scheme has a high number of children from disadvantaged
homes Children who are struggling to read have made
"spectacular" improvements under a reading scheme, academics
say. Results from a three-year pilot programme show on average
pupils boosted their reading age by nearly two years in four or
five months. The scheme for six-year-olds, called Every Child a
Reader, is being rolled out across England. More than 5,000
pupils received one-to-one tuition for 30 minutes a day to help
them catch up with their peers. The £10 million pilot scheme was
monitored by the Institute of Education, University of London,
which has just published its report on the third year of the
programme. Children following the programme for between 12 to 20
weeks made progress at well over four times the normal rate,
researchers found. Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "I am
delighted to see the continued success of this vital programme
for the most disadvantaged children who deserve the best from
their schooling. "We know the importa