Intensive School Support
In addition to our Medium Level Support offer, eligible schools can also benefit from further intensive support from our English Hub.
Schools that meet two or more of the following DfE criteria, will be prioritised for intensive support:
Key Stage 1
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lower than average percentage PSC scores for disadvantaged pupils;
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low attainment in the first 20% of children;
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a lower than average percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in the Phonics Screening Check;
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a higher than average proportion of children eligible for Pupil Premium;
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previous partner schools who last received intensive support two or more years ago, have experienced significant systemic change since leaving the programme and who have failed to realise and/or maintain improvement in SSP scores;
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a high proportion of groups considered hard to reach, such as EAL, FSM, travellers etc;
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schools referred by local partners (e.g. RISE, NLEs, LAs, RSCs);
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schools where standards in phonics are identified as areas for development through Ofsted inspection findings;
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schools where there is a risk of declining standards in phonics.
Key Stage 2
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lower than average KS2 reading outcomes for disadvantaged pupils across three or more academic years;
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a lower than average percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in the KS2 reading assessments;
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schools referred by local partners (e.g. RISE, LAs, RSCs);
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schools where standards in KS2 reading are identified as an area for development through recent Ofsted inspection findings;
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a high proportion of groups considered hard to reach, such as EAL, FSM, travellers etc;
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schools which demonstrate across an average of three consecutive years (2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25) a percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in KS2 reading which is 6 percentage points or more lower than the percentage meeting the expected standard in the Y1 PSC.
Key Stage 3
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higher than average number of Year 7 pupils who did not meet the expected standard in the KS2 reading assessment at primary school;
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where disadvantaged pupils' KS4 attainment is below the national average for disadvantaged pupils;
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a higher than average proportion of pupils eligible for pupil premium;
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a high proportion of priority groups such as EAL, FSM, travellers etc;
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a higher than average number of pupils with SEND;
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where reading has been identified as an area for development by Ofsted;
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schools in which staff leading in reading are new to their position.
Partner Schools
Our 'Partner Schools' will receive intensive school support days with one of our experienced Literacy Specialists.
As a Partner School, your school's assigned Literacy Specialist will spend each support day working alongside the Headteacher and Reading/Phonics Lead for the day, exploring elements of teaching and learning, assessment, phonics provision, early language and Reading for Pleasure provision.
Your Literacy Specialist will offer support, feedback and guidance, whilst modelling to staff and providing on the spot coaching to develop teaching and build an 'expert team of phonics teachers'.
Partner Schools will receive £160 ‘back-fill’ after each Literacy Specialist Support day to cover supply costs for the Reading / Phonics Leader's release time.
All Partner Schools are entitled to a phonics audit. Hubs may provide up to £6000 funding. These amounts are maximums and should not be considered as an automatic entitlement for every school. Resource funding should be viewed by the school as a contribution, and it must be match funded.
What our Partner Schools say about working with our English Hub
Cancellation Policy
For Literacy Specialist days, we require a minimum of 7 days' notice for cancellations or changes, with exceptions made only for unforeseen circumstances, such as an OFSTED inspection. Failure to notify your Literacy Specialist within this timeframe may result in your school not receiving their full allocation of Literacy Specialist days. Cancellation of two Literacy Specialist days at short notice (fewer than 7 days) will result in a meeting with our hub lead to discuss your commitment to the Department for Education’s Partner School Programme.
In the case that two events/professional development sessions or Literacy Specialist days are cancelled at short notice, your school’s leadership will be notified and informed of the cost implications to the English Hub.