WIREDGOV

The search is on across England to find Reading Recovery practitioners who have made an outstanding contribution to children's literacy through the school-based literacy programme. The European Centre for Reading Recovery, based at the Institute of Education (IOE), London, has opened nominations for its annual Reading Recovery Awards.

There are three categories: Regional Reading Recovery Teacher of the Year Awards, Inspirational Manager of the Year Award and the Reading Recovery School of the Year Awards, which includes several subcategories.

To enter, a case study or supporting statement needs to be submitted by 18 March, 2013. The first prize winners will be announced at a celebration ceremony at the IOE on 14 June, 2013 and will receive a trophy and certificate, with finalists being awarded a plaque and certificate.

Julia Douetil, head of the European Centre for Reading Recovery, said: "For many years we have heard anecdotally about the amazing work that Reading Recovery teachers and schools do, going that extra mile for children who otherwise would struggle. It is wonderful to be able to recognise their endeavours and to give then the public acknowledgement they deserve."

Alongside the awards, the Centre is also running a writing and picture competition for past and present Reading Recovery children. This aims to give those who have benefitted from the literacy programme a chance to express and share how Reading Recovery has made an impact on their lives.

There are two categories for this competition: the five to six age range and the seven and over age range. The winner from each category will receive a £50 WHSmith voucher and a trophy, as well as a £50 WHSmith voucher for their school. Finalists will receive a £25 WHSmith voucher and a trophy, and a £25 WHSmith voucher for their school.

For more information on how to enter, visit: http://readingrecovery.ioe.ac.uk/events/1213.html

Editor's notes

• Reading Recovery is a school-based literacy programme for the lowest achieving children aged five or six that enables them to reach age-expected levels within 20 weeks. It involves a short series of one-to-one lessons every day with a specially trained teacher.
• Reading Recovery is at the heart of Every Child a Reader (ECaR), a whole school improvement strategy for literacy.
• Phonics has an important role within Reading Recovery.
• 2007-2012, Reading Recovery in England was supported through the Every Child a Reader (ECaR) programme.
• Reading Recovery was developed in the 1970s by New Zealand educator Dr Marie Clay. It is now used world-wide.
The Institute of Education is a college of the University of London that specialises in education and related areas of social science and professional practice. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise two-thirds of the publications that the IOE submitted were judged to be internationally significant and over a third were judged to be "world leading". The Institute was recognised by Ofsted in 2010 for its "high quality" initial teacher training programmes that inspire its students "to want to be outstanding teachers". The IOE is a member of the 1994 group, which brings together 19 internationally renowned, research-intensive universities

For more information contact
Clare Fisher, communications officer
European Centre for Reading Recovery
Institute of Education
University of London
20 Bedford Way
London WC1H 0AL
Tel: 020 7911 5422
Fax: 020 7612 6828
Email: c.fisher@ioe.ac.uk