Camden’s Every Child Reading by 7 (ECR7) initiative is unashamedly bold in its ambition to see every child, in every Camden school, become a confident reader by the age of seven, closing the disadvantage gap in early literacy.
The programme brings together school leaders, teachers and literacy specialists from across the borough as we commit to ensure that – no matter what their background, starting point or special educational needs – no child falls behind in reading.
The initiative is showing the positive impact collaboration can have on borough-wide literacy provision – through parental engagement, expert support, professional learning, and evidence-informed resources. Examples of these resources can be found on Camden Learning’s ECR7 page, including this flowchart of reading interventions and this booklet for parents and carers.
Schools in Camden, like many others across the country, are working in increasingly complex circumstances. Mobility is high, many children in our schools are learning English as an additional language, levels of disadvantage also remain high, and significantly more children are presenting with significant special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Moreover, the lingering impact of the pandemic has meant that many children are starting school with lower levels of language, communication and early literacy skills than in previous years.
This is why we have sought to strengthen our collective focus on early reading, as part of Camden’s Education Strategy to 2030, Building Back Stronger. As lead of the ECR7 programme, it is a great pleasure to facilitate as schools share expertise, refine practice and support each other to improve outcomes for all children.
Over the past year, we have seen 16 schools across Camden take advantage of our tailored support to strengthen phonics and early reading provision, alongside professional development sessions focused on reading from Early Years through to Year 7. Bespoke one-to-one support is also available to schools who request it. Schools have also benefited from tailored coaching and opportunities to analyse assessment data in greater depth, as well as practical support to develop interventions for those children at risk of falling behind.
Inclusion is a central and vital part of our work, ensuring that we are relentless about removing barriers to learning for pupils with SEND. Though an inclusive approach we can challenge outdated assumptions that children with SEND cannot learn to read through phonics programmes. By working closely with speech and language teams and literacy experts, schools are developing approaches that adapt teaching to children’s needs while maintaining high expectations for every individual.
It is fantastic to see that the ECR7 project is already having a measurable impact. Camden was ranked sixth last year out of 153 local authorities in England for Year 1 phonics outcomes. Outcomes for disadvantaged pupils are particularly strong, with Camden ranked second nationally and its attainment gap having narrowed to 9% compared to 17% nationally.
Alongside phonics teaching, we are helping schools to build a culture of reading for pleasure through partnerships with organisations including Bloomsbury Publishing and the British Library. Author events, family reading sessions and free book giveaways are encouraging more children to see themselves as readers and to develop a lifelong love of books and reading.
ECR7 is rooted in the belief that reading transforms life chances. When children can read fluently and confidently, they are better equipped to succeed across the curriculum and beyond.
As this initiative continues to grow, Camden Learning is encouraging all schools in the borough to use the programme’s resources and expertise, whether through training, peer support, shared resources or professional networks. By working together we can ensure that every child is a confident reader.
