Ofsted reports often mention Toe by Toe as a positive measure to improve school performance. The following excerpts from Ofsted reports show how Toe by Toe is seen by many Ofsted inspectors as not only an aid to teaching reading skills, but also an excellent way of improving confidence and general standards.
| School |
Age Range |
Date |
Ofsted Report excerpt |
| HOWARD OF EFFINGHAM |
11-18 |
Feb 2000 |
"A good initiative is the ‘Toe by Toe’ scheme to
improve the reading of Year 7 students with reading ages below 10 years. This well-managed
scheme has involved the training of 72 sixth formers who act as tutors for many of the students.
There is good communication with parents and the results for the few students who have already
completed the scheme show that their reading has improved significantly." |
| ST RICHARD’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY |
5-11 |
May 2001 |
"Particularly valuable is the regular commitment, which several parents make, in supervising the regular ‘Toe-by-toe’ reading support
programme throughout the school."
"The ‘Toe-by-toe’ reading support programme, managed by the special
educational needs teacher and supported well by parents, is having a good impact on pupils’ progress in
reading." |
| PARSONS DOWN JUNIOR |
7-11 |
Mar 2002 |
"in a Year 5 literacy lesson, lower-attaining
pupils were working on an individual ‘Toe by Toe’ programme with the aid of a very well briefed
support assistant. This took place in the classroom as part of the session, with the pupils able to
take part in the rest of the literacy hour as part of the whole group before and after without having
lost the thread of the lesson." |
| ST LEONARD’S C of E PRIMARY |
4-11 |
May 2002 |
"‘Toe by Toe’ taught by teaching assistants result in pupils with SEN gaining in confidence in
their reading skills."
"high level of access to good curricular opportunities through the
quality of the packages such as ‘Toe by Toe’."
"Pupils with additional special educational needs make good gains in their reading
because of the effective strategies such as ‘Toe by Toe’ that
are used to support them in gaining in confidence." |
| TREVERBYN COMMUNITY PRIMARY |
4-11 |
Mar 2005 |
"Support initiatives such as Toe by Toe are helping to raise standards." |
| ST MARY’S COLLEGE |
11-18 |
Mar 2001 |
"Pupils who have low reading skills improve by following the toe-by-toe schemes"
"Pupils benefit from the very structured reading lessons in toe-by-toe" |
| TUDHOE GRANGE |
11-16 |
Nov 1999 |
"Pupils with specific learning difficulties benefit from the structured approach of the ‘Toe by toe’ programme." |
| ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC |
11-18 |
Jan 2001 |
"Effective literacy teaching for pupils with special educational needs includes working with Toe by Toe" |
| QUEEN ELIZABETH’S GRAMMAR |
11-18 |
May 2000 |
"The additional programmes provided by the special educational needs staff, such as Toe-by-toe are well attended and highly valued by students in both lower and upper school." |
| Cuddington Community Primary |
4-11 |
Mar 2000 |
"The governing body ... talk enthusiastically about the Toe-by-Toe programmes and their positive impact on pupils’ attainment."
"The achievement of some lower attaining pupils is being
raised effectively by the “Toeby-Toe” project, that also involves a number of parents in supporting pupils’ reading development." |
| REDHILL |
11-18 |
Oct 2000 |
"Many students volunteer to assist younger pupils within the Toe by Toe reading programme." |
| BROMPTON COMMUNITY PRIMARY |
3-11 |
Feb 2004 |
"Provision is made very well for those pupils who have specific learning difficulties in
English through particular catch up programmes such as Toe by Toe" |
| FROGMORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE |
11-18 |
Mar 2001 |
"support, such as ‘Toe by Toe’ will benefit students’ progress and achievement." |
| TOMLINSCOTE |
11-18 |
Feb 2005 |
"Example of outstanding practice
A dozen trained sixth formers work with students with SEN on a structured reading scheme – the
‘Toe by Toe’ programme. This works well: the sixth formers are committed, the learners are well
motivated, relationships are good, and the work is purposeful." |
| ESTON PARK |
11-16 |
Feb 2002 |
"Systems are in place to develop literacy skills, which include Toe-by-Toe sessions." |
| SIR JAMES SMITH |
11-18 |
Sep 2001 |
"The teaching of pupils with special educational needs in the Support Centre by teachers and assistants is good, especially the teaching of literacy in ‘Toe
by Toe’ sessions for pupils with dyslexia or extreme reading problems." |
| WILLEN COMBINED |
5-12 |
Jul 2003 |
"Also extending the school’s work is the Toe-by-Toe Club concentrating specifically on
improving pupils’ reading skills." |
| MERE GREEN |
3-11 |
Jun 2000 |
"Regular, specific phonic support using the 'Toe by Toe' scheme is enabling pupils to make good progress with their learning." |
| THE FAIRWAY MIDDLE |
8-12 |
May 2003 |
"a few pupils have been identified as requiring very specific teaching of basic
reading skills using the ‘Toe by Toe’ programme. These pupils benefit from skilled and
sensitive support on a very regular basis and are quickly developing their skills and
confidence as readers." |
| HALCON COMMUNITY PRIMARY |
4-11 |
May 2004 |
"support particular needs, for example with the toe-by-toe reading
scheme to reinforce key words." |
| HIND LEYS COMMUNITY COLLEGE |
14-18 |
Jan 2000 |
"The learning support faculty also provides good strategies to support parents of students with
special education needs through the ‘Toe by Toe’ initiative." |
| LEESIDE |
3-11 |
Feb 2003 |
"teaching activities to support pupils with special educational needs include ‘Toe By Toe’," |
| ST DAY AND CARHARRACK |
4-11 |
Nov 2000 |
"The teaching seen for pupils with special educational needs was good or very good. For example, ‘Toe by Toe’ for pupils with dyslexic tendencies" |
| ROBERT MELLORS PRIMARY |
3-11 |
Jul 2000 |
"a number of parents help to raise reading standards by working on the ‘Toe by Toe’ scheme;" |
| STANHOPE PRIMARY |
3-11 |
Jun 2003 |
"The learning of a number of pupils is enhanced by the school’s involvement in national and
local initiatives, such as Toe by Toe" |
| JOHN SPENDLUFFE |
11-16 |
Mar 2001 |
"the ‘Toe-by-Toe’ supported reading club, run by parents and Year 11 prefects to improve the reading levels of some Year 7 pupils" |
| TOOT HILL |
11-18 |
Sep 2000 |
"The Toe-by-Toe scheme, which is a highly structured
multi-sensory approach to literacy, significantly adds value in raising standards. Pupils make very good
progress, especially in their reading."
"The Toe-by-Toe scheme and the other special needs support systems are very effective in
promoting pupils’ self-esteem and improving attitudes." |