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We have for many years collated quantitative data for talkingpartners@primary (TP@P), which consistently highlights the effectiveness of the programme as an intervention. Over the years, results from many varied schools and Early Years settings across the UK continue to show accelerated gains in pupils' productive oral language. Using a standardised assessment Renfrew Language Scales: Action Picture Test, two areas of productive oral language are measured: Information given and grammar used. During a 10 week programme pupils typically make over 18 months progress in their productive oral language. The latest data report for 2018-19 indicates even greater results with gains in information of over two years and two months and gains in grammar of over eighteen months. For the first time we have also been able to include evidence of international successes. A complete picture can been seen in the full 2019 talkingpartners@primary data report. TP@P is an ongoing long term success story.
As we have done with TP@P's sister programme BR@P, we have decided to collate examples of good practice; case studies, which help us to get behind the figures and deepen our understanding of the benefits of the programme in different settings and even in different education systems. These studies range from rigorous academic reports to working documents, snippets of evidence or short personal reflections.
Our aim is to add to these case studies year on year and build a library of good practice.
Rebecca Shore, Reading Recovery teacher for Hampshire has shared TP@P data with us for several years. Direct results from the programme, measured by the Renfrew Language Scales Action Picture Test, in Rebecca's area, are in line with the significant national increases we have come to expect from TP@P. As part of her ECaR reporting she has explored whether TP@P might also have a wider impact on reading and writing.
To read an overview of both reports please read the attached download: Hampshire overview.
We have also attached the original reports in full, ECaR@TP 2015-2016 and ECaR@TP 2016-17.
This study shared by Bhupinder Gill and Deborah Wilcock in Kent explores the wider impact of TP@P for three Year 5 pupils compared to their peers. Their programme was delivered by an HLTA with five years TP@P experience and they were taught between November 2018 and March 2019. All three pupils began the programme with below average language levels. This study gives a snapshot of the difference TP@P can make for individual pupils.
In 2016, Sandra Neild from Thameside, shared a small amount of data with the TP@P team which included gains for four pupils mapped to 'Blank Levels'. Finding easy to administer assessments that evidence change over time in pupils' oral language has been an ongoing challenge for the programme. 'Blank Levels' are a measure that can be used to assess children's understanding of questions. As well as making significant progress in the Renfrew Language Scales Action Picture Test, our usual assessment, these pupils made measurable gains in 'Blank Level' scores. We feel that using 'Blank Levels' might provide us with a very useful measure, both, for assessing pupils who start TP@P with low levels of oral language and to provide a more in depth picture of their language profiles.
Read the complete explanation of Study 3 TP@P mapped to Blank Levels in PDF - download here>
These two evaluative studies were shared with us by Kate O' Hanlon. They follow the progress of 44 target pupils, in 2015 and evaluate the impact on writing. The studies interrogate data from two areas of Northern Ireland. The evaluations show a link between Renfrew Language Scales, Action Picture Test (Renfrew) scores and writing outcomes. In the interests of reliability, in each area, Renfrew gains are compared with a matched control group. The evaluations highlight the undeniably positive impact of the TP@P implementation.
Read a summary of both evaluations here: overview of case study here.
We have included full transcripts of Evaluation 1, Evaluation 2 and Case Study Writing Samples.
In 2018, for the first time, we received data from a school in Australia. Ronnelle Sanders trained staff, coordinated the implementation and has been evaluating the impact in a school in Brisbane. When we collated data for our 2019 report, she sent the Renfrew Language Scales Action Picture Test results for twelve pupils. They made gains of two years ten months in information (I) and two years nine months in grammar (G). Whilst there are too few pupils for these result to have statistical significance, with such positive results, we were interested to find out more about how TP@P is working for them.
To read an account of this implementation: Download the full report from Australia.
In 2017 and 2018, Clare Reed, our Speech and Language Consultant went o Iceland to train a number of Teachers and Educationalist from the University of Akureyri in TP@P. The challenge for this group of practitioners was not only that of finding the best way to adapt the programme to their educational context but also the need to translate materials and then find effective ways to monitor the programme and measure progress.
In 2018-19, Rannveig Sigurðardóttir explored aspects of this challenge in her MA report 'Talking Partners: Discussion of Teaching'. This is a mixed methods case study in which she explores the methodology of TP@P how it might relate to the Icelandic context; analyses her own approach to translating, adapting and piloting the programme in Icelandic and assesses the impact on three treatment pupils. All three were in their second year of compulsory education at an urban primary school; all three speak Icelandic as a second language. It is interesting that the three target pupils display characteristics that will feel very familiar to anyone who has implemented a programme here in the UK. Child one had poor social skills, child two needed to focus on developing skills in a second language but had poor concentration and child three had fallen behind after a period of illness and lacked the confidence to contribute in group settings.
The positive results make a case for continuing and extending the teaching of TP@P in Iceland.
To read an overview of this study, please open the attached download: Iceland Overview
Download the full MA Report on Talking Partners in Iceland. Please be aware that we used a commercial tool to translate this report from the original Icelandic. Whilst the study is fascinating you may find the use of language idiosyncratic in places!
These studies make fascinating reading. We are very grateful to everyone who has taken the time to share their work with us. In addition, many thanks to all those who took part in the original studies.
Do you have your own TP@P success story? Do you have good practice to share? If so please contact clare.reed@educationworks.org.uk
For more information about Boosting Reading Support, contact Education Works by email: info@educationworks.org.uk