About Chapter One

Chapter One is a small but growing charity, working to ensure that every child has 1:1 reading support at the time they need it most.

Our Early Literacy Intervention programme is based on a programme that works successfully in the USA and it provides daily, 1:1, 7 minute phonics sessions for children who are behind in phonics. Using a bespoke technology tool, a trained Early Reading Interventionist works individually with target children.

We also have our unique Online Reading Volunteers Programme which currently supports about 3,500 children a year. It pairs struggling five to seven-year old (KS1) readers with reading support volunteers who come from over 150 local and national businesses. The volunteer pledge is very focused: readers commit 30 minutes a week to read with a child using a bespoke digital platform for an entire academic year. The results are transformative, boosting children's reading confidence and ability.

About the role

Working for 5 hours per day, 5 days a week (term-time only) at The Willow Primary School in Haringey, this role will involve delivering a programme of 1:1 focussed sessions for selected Reception and Year 1 children. The ELI will be trained to use Chapter One’s specialised online tool designed to support learners who are at risk of falling behind with their phonics.

We are looking for a highly motivated, energetic individual who enjoys working with young children and who wants to make their mark in a fast-growing charity. We can offer training, a small friendly team and a chance to improve the lives of children facing disadvantage.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct an initial baseline assessment of selected target children in Reception and Year 1 to determine where further support is needed.
• Use Chapter One’s online tool to deliver differentiated, daily, 1:1, targeted, 7 minute phonics sessions to pupils using a systematic, synthetic approach.
• Use a variety of additional activities to reinforce phonics skills.
• Support children to use their secure phonics knowledge to read decodable books.
• Develop pupils’ phonics fluency and confidence in preparation for the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, where applicable.
• Document each session with a child, including the skills practised or mastered and a goal for the next session.
• Maintain and update daily pupil progress trackers, identifying phonics skills secured and areas requiring consolidation to inform future teaching.
• Challenge pupils to reach each new goal and celebrate pupil success.
• Work closely and on an ongoing basis with classroom teachers, reading support staff and the school team to understand progression of the schools phonics teaching.
• Work closely with classroom teachers to establish tailored plans for each child.
• Provide school leaders with data and information on pupil progress.
• Gather feedback from school on progress of the programme and any implementation challenges, aiming to help Chapter One to continuously improve programme delivery.
• Collaborate with colleagues at Chapter One to further improve the ELI model, the online tool and programme delivery.

Qualifications Criteria

• Maths and English GCSE at Grade 5 or above.
• Right to work in the UK.

We are looking for applicants with the following essential qualities:

• Experience of working in education or childcare.
• Willingness to undergo further training in phonics pedagogy.
• Highly motivated, energetic individual with excellent interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Ability to adapt and embrace a changing environment.
• Excellent personal planning and a proven ability to work independently.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels inside and outside the organisation.
• Highly computer literate with hands-on experience of using MS Office and platforms and tools such as Google analytics, PowerPoint and more.
• An understanding of Child Safeguarding.
• A commitment to Chapter One’s mission and values.

Ideally, applicants will also have the following desirable qualities:

• Experience in supporting young children with phonics in a classroom setting.