Solving the Reading Progress Puzzle

Targeted support beyond phonics, tailored to each child.

The ARK: a unique assessment tool 
Introducing the Assessment of Reading Knowledge (ARK). 
The ARK tests a child’s knowledge and understanding of the mechanics of reading, their knowledge of words, books and their understanding of a text. It is designed to feel like a pleasant experience for the child and not like a formal assessment.
It will provide an overall score that will indicate whether a child needs extra support and input with their reading knowledge and reading skill acquisition. The ARK identifies the specific areas of focus that need to be addressed for each individual child.
A Comprehensive Approach
Despite passing the Phonics Screening Check, many children struggle with reading fluency and comprehension. This phenomenon underscores the need for a more holistic assessment that identifies the gaps in reading skills beyond phonics. The ARK is designed to fill this gap, providing educators and parents with a clear understanding of why a child may not be reading fluently and what specific areas need targeted intervention.

Dyslexia

What if a child has dyslexia?

The Assessment of Reading Knowledge (ARK) will provide specific information on the intervention needed to support the development of every child’s reading. 

As part of this, it will also provide information on whether a formal diagnosis of dyslexia is recommended. 

The ARK is inclusive by design and supports all children. Even with the possibility of a dyslexia diagnosis, the strategies identified by the ARK will have a positive impact on any child’s ability to read. 

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. 
Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties with phonological awareness. verbal memory and verbal processing speed:

Phonological difficulties
Dyslexic children with phonological difficulties can lack automaticity with sound/letter correspondence, which is needed for decoding and pronouncing words for reading, and encoding for spelling. 
Memory difficulties 
Dyslexic individuals often have difficulty holding information in their short-term memory and also with retrieving it from their working memory.
Visual difficulties 
Dyslexic individuals can often have difficulty with tracking accurately; they may experience glare from reading black on white, or blur from certain fonts.

How does dyslexia affect a child's ability to read?

Having dyslexia can cause difficulty with:

  • Using phonics and blending letters together. 
  • Identifying syllable division.
  • Identifying beginning, middle and end sounds.
  • Pronouncing unfamiliar words.
  • Using expression.
  • Being able to read fluently, especially when reading aloud.
  • Being able to recognise familiar words.
  • Omitting, adding or substituting words. 
  • Losing the point in stories.
  • Identifying the main points.
  • Comprehension.  

Will the ARK diagnose dyslexia?

The ARK tests such a wide variety of skills that it will also automatically provide an informed recommendation on whether a child may need a formal diagnosis of dyslexia. 

Features

 

Assessment of Reading Knowledge

Why do some children pass the phonics screening but still struggle to read? Our unique ARK assessment provides the answer!

 

Clear guidance

What do we need to do next? We will provide you with clear guidance on the specific intervention required for each child to enable them to develop their reading skills.

 

Teaching sessions

What if we want an expert to do it? We offer a bespoke programme of teaching sessions, carried out by our own reading specialists, based on the areas identified by the ARK.

Unlock every child's reading potential
Every child can be a reader!

Our Services

Package A

Assessment and summary of recommendations: This package includes an initial reading assessment, which evaluates various aspects of each child's reading skills, a concise summary of our findings and general recommendations to support each child's reading development.

Package B

Assessment and detailed plan: This option provides a more in-depth analysis plus a detailed plan outlining specific strategies and activities to improve each child's reading skills. The plan includes step-by-step instructions on how to implement these strategies at home or in a school setting.

Package C

Assessment, detailed plan, and 1:1 teaching sessions: This all-inclusive package includes everything in Package B, plus eight one-to-one teaching sessions with a qualified reading specialist, using targeted interventions to improve each child’s reading proficiency.

Testimonials

 Thanks to The Reading Den, our Year 2 children have shown remarkable improvement in reading fluency and comprehension and with their general enthusiasm for reading! 

Miss O
Year 2 teacher
     

 The personalised attention my son received made all the difference. I would never have realised what was preventing my son from being able to progress with his reading without the ARK. The reading specialist was amazing! 

Tom
Father of a 7 year old
     

 Our teachers now feel empowered to support every child with their reading progress. The ARK clearly identified the areas of focus and the reading specialist was brilliant at providing ideas for bespoke teaching sessions. 

Mr G
Primary School SLT
     

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