The number of students and pupils who cannot read and/or write well is still too high. I am on a mission to help schools and practitioners overcome this challenge.
Having supported schools, trusts and wider projects across cities, I am able to develop expertise that leads to a positive impact in the classroom. In recent years, I also provide support and guidance at a national level.
I have a range of support options and prepared training topics that can be tailored to your setting. Alternatively, for training content, I am keen to respond to need and will build material on a specific area of need.
Understanding the literacy challenge is half the battle
In-school support and guidance
I specialise in working with schools (Primary and Secondary) to meet the ‘reading and writing challenge.’ I am able to visit schools or work virtually to help schools unlock their pupil’s potential.
Through a rigorous audit process, I can help schools to form a coherent plan of action so that they make changes to the areas that will have the biggest impact.
In a supportive manner, I can then work alongside leaders to help implement change that leads to improved outcomes.
How have I helped schools in the past?
- I developed a trust-wide approach to early reading that led to all schools successfully navigating their Ofsted inspections and achieving phonics data significantly above the national average (even in disadvantages areas).
- I worked closely with a secondary school to design a bespoke approach to reading lessons in KS3 for those pupils who found it challenging.
- I audited and helped a secondary school build a comprehensive approach to their struggling reader offer. This led to huge gains in their reading ages and an enhanced reading for pleasure culture.
- I helped to shape, lead and deliver a comprehensive and nationally recognised city-wide project across Derby and Nottingham, covering both KS2 and KS3 leadership and practice. Find more details and the impact report here
- I also work for a trust and have helped phonics data significantly increase so it is consistently higher than the national average. In addition to this, I contribute to making it one of the top performing trusts in the country.
- I have worked with a range of partners to create and deliver a vast amount of high-quality training. From standing on stage to deliver material to hundreds of delegates, to working closely with a small team in a school, I help to build staff knowledge and confidence with my engaging, knowledge-rich and passionate approach.
- Recently, I have built a high-quality, system-led Literacy Excellence Centre that provides the very best literacy guidance, support and training. Learn more about it here
If you would like to achieve great things too, please get in touch
Support for Spelling programme
In 2024, I launched this innovative programme for teaching spelling. To learn more, visit www.supportforspelling.com
Empowering teachers to teach spelling with confidence
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Support for Spelling
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”
Maya Angelou
“I have had the pleasure and honour of working collaboratively with Carl in the field of foundational literacy for several years. Originally Carl contacted me to learn about my DfE-validated phonics programmes, and my approach to teacher-training, to inform his own consultancy work and expertise in advising and supporting regional schools.
Carl has equally supported me in the development of my work and suggested the need for further specific resources for teaching and learning in early years and primary education. These additional resources have enriched our provision, and enabled schools to save money by utilising their existing phonics-based reading books (of various publishers) in sensible ways.
Based on Carl’s extensive observations in schools, he has guided me with suggestions for creating flexible training options for busy teachers in different contexts. Carl can also liaise with schools where my phonics programmes have been adopted by providing in-school continuing professional development and/or email support if requested.
Carl is refreshingly easy to work with – very straightforward – willing to learn and willing to teach as evolves. I cannot recommend his advisory work highly enough.”
Debbie Hepplewhite MBE FRSA
The Galaxy Reading Approach
A range of tools for class wide reading to empower educators and engage students to become better at literacy.
Remote Training
A selection of niche training videos aimed at specific areas, to help improve teaching and also student participation.
In-School Training & Support
In-school or online audits of how literacy programs are being delivered. Providing a plan of action and training to address any areas for improvement.
Support for Spelling
A comprehensive programme for teaching spelling. Built to empower practitioners to teach spelling with confidence.
Pearl Phonics programme
A comprehensive systematic synthetic phonics programme. Low-cost and highly effective.