1. Why the change?  National Numeracy and Literacy Strategy/ School Self Evaluation  Statistics from Australia and New Zealand where this approach is on the national curricula  Very positive response from our teachers who attended courses on Lift- off and G. R.  Feedback from infant teachers that traditional reading schemes had become outdated

2.  April 2012 … Two staff members attended a preparation course in Marino.  May 2012 Senior Infant Teachers and one second class agreed to pilot  June 2012 PDST training for those involved in the pilot  Term 1 2012 …. Liftoff !!!

3.  Pupils are tested to help with grouping. This testing is called Benchmarking.  Testing is done 1:1 outside the door using a kit  The class teacher and/or the support teacher benchmarks.  Results are recorded before and after

4. Senior Infants. 6 week Programme Every day for 1 hour

5. 5 Groups / 5 stations New Reading with class teacher Familiar reading with SNA/parent volunteer Phonics with support teacher 1 Writing with support teacher 2 Independent Station

6.  I love the stations.  We’re very busy at stations.  I can read all the words in my book.  I get to have a new book every night.  I made new friends in my group.

7. In a parents’ survey, following the Liftoff Pilot 100% of respondants stated that:  their child enjoyed participating in the programme  they enjoyed the daily reading session with their child  the programme boosted their child’s confidence  they noticed an improvement in their child’s reading 85.7 % also noticed an improvement in their child’s writing 66.6% made an additional positive comment

8. Level Before After 1504 2202 356 417 5211 628 72 804 9212 1017 1114 ≥12212

9.  Senior Infants - follow-on to Literacy Liftoff  Support teacher working in class.  Twice a week for one hour in each Senior Infant Class