Reading
Recovery
Programme

Reading Recovery programme is a school-based, short-term intervention designed for children aged five and a half to six and a half, usually Senior Infants. The intervention involves intensive one-to-one lessons for 30 minutes a day with a trained literacy teacher, for anywhere between 12 to 20 weeks.

The intervention is different for every child. The focus of each lesson is to understand what they are reading; to construct messages in writing, sometimes with the use of magnetic letters and learning how to attend to detail without losing focus on meaning.

There is a follow up at 3 and 6 months. The intervention is not an alternative to classroom teaching, but compliments it, in turn enabling the children to get the most from their classroom programme.

We are privileged at Scoil Íosagáin to have a Reading Recovery programme in place. Not all schools are this fortunate. This is with no doubt due to the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication of Eileen Porter who is now a fully qualified Reading Recovery Teacher, one of only two in the North Wexford area. Her classroom is bright and welcoming, all of which creates a calm atmosphere in which to learn. It is fully equipped to cater for the needs of the children, with an array of books suitable for every level and ability. The brilliant thing about this programme is that it deals with what each child needs rather than a set curriculum that is standard for everybody.