Year 7 Pupil Recognised as Reading Plus Star of the Month for Outstanding Progress

Year 7 student Kimy from Academy 360 has been named Reading Plus Star of the Month. He received his trophy, certificate and book prize during a school assembly, celebrated by staff and students for his outstanding commitment and progress in reading.

Kimy was nominated by Mrs Ferguson, Teacher of English and Reading Lead, for his dedication and perseverance in improving his reading skills.

“It is fantastic to see Kimy be recognised for all his hard work improving his reading. We know how much of a difference reading makes to the lives of children and it is phenomenal to see Kimy experience so many magical stories through his dedication to Reading Plus. We know Kimy’s love of reading will continue to flourish and we can’t wait to see what he will achieve next.”

- Mrs Ferguson, Teacher of English and Reading Lead at Academy 360

The Reading Plus Star of the Month award is organised in the UK by Daisy Education. Each month, one primary and one secondary student are recognised nationally for their exceptional commitment, perseverance and enthusiasm for reading. Students are selected based on their baseline assessment, which identifies their starting reading level and ensures that tasks are personalised to their individual ability. This allows teachers to see each student’s progress and identify areas that need extra support. Students who demonstrate outstanding progress or dedication to Reading Plus are nominated for this prestigious award.

Kimy began Reading Plus with a comprehension rate of 70%. Through regular engagement in both timetabled and intervention sessions, he has now achieved a comprehension rate of 83%, reading nearly 70,000 words in the process. Additionally, when answering reasoning-style questions in particular, Kimy has improved his success rate by 31% since the start of the programme. His improvement demonstrates both his determination and the effectiveness of the Reading Plus programme.

Reading Plus is an adaptive, online reading programme that supports students from Year 2 to beyond GCSE. It develops reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary and confidence. The programme encourages intrinsic motivation through a wide selection of age-appropriate fiction and non-fiction texts. Using tools like the patented Guided Window, Reading Plus ensures that students’ eyes stay focused on the text, building fluency and reading stamina. The programme adapts to each student’s progress, helping them move from learning to read to reading to learn.

Daisy Education provides schools with comprehensive data on student progress, alongside free training and support, so that teachers and teaching assistants can deliver targeted interventions. By using Reading Plus, Academy 360 and the Laidlaw Schools Trust continue to close the gap in education, ensuring every student receives the support they need to reach their full potential, gain confidence, and develop a lifelong love of reading.

Kimy’s achievement as Reading Plus Star of the Month is a shining example of how dedication, personalised support and innovative learning tools can come together to produce outstanding outcomes for students.