DfE review of literacy and numeracy catch-up strategies for low-attaining year 7 pupils
The Department for Education has updated guidance on Literacy and Numeracy Catch-up Strategies (external link) in order to incorporate the latest evidence.
The review is intended to support teachers to make evidence-informed decisions based on robust statistical analysis of what does and does not work. However, it is also useful for governing boards when it comes to ensuring that catch-up premium funding is being spent effectively.
In terms of literacy, interventions for writing and reading comprehension generally produced good results, as did computer-based interventions and some one-to-one methods. Evidence around phonics approaches, summer and Saturday schools and blended interventions was not as conclusive.
Much less is known about what works to support low-attaining year 7 pupils catch up with their peers in numeracy, as the few interventions trialled did not prove to be effective.
A smooth transition from primary to secondary school is also shown to help low-attaining pupils catch up with their peers, providing the general principles included in the guidance are observed. The evidence reviewed should not be considered definitive; those governing should closely monitor the impact of their own catch-up strategies and interventions