The librarian of the year on how we can make a difference for reluctant young readers

For the past three years, as part of the multitude of intervention activities we run for students with weak literacy skills, we have been undertaking some research into the use of new technologies to improve reading and writing skills.

One area of this is the use of e-readers, such as Kindles, and e-books. Over the three-year period we have worked with students with a range of reading barriers (things that stop them from achieving in reading – i.e. SEN or disabilities, English as an additional language, low reading ages gauged from cognitive abilities tests).

These students have received years of intervention, teaching them an understanding of phonics and the practicalities involved in deciphering texts. These have made little or no impact and the young person remains at risk of not being able to access texts across the curriculum and therefore not making the required progress in attainment and achievement.