This website is a resource designed for teachers, parents and children involved in the Aston Literacy Project, and others interested in our research findings. We will update it regularly so please visit often to keep informed.
Our project investigates the relationship between auditory skills, phonology, and reading in children at the beginning and intermediate stages of literacy development. The research is funded by a four-year ESRC-funded grant (2011-2015) conducted by Dr Anna Cunningham (Research Fellow), Kate Swoboda (PhD student), Dr Laura Shapiro (Principal Investigator), Dr Caroline Witton, Dr Joel Talcott, Dr Kim Rochelle and Professor Adrian Burgess.
Please see our Newsletter for a summary of the findings from phase 1 (Autumn, 2011)
Please click here for a brief summary of the project on the ESRC website.
The project involves two large groups of children from 16 schools in the Birmingham area.
- Sample 1: 800 Reception-age children (beginning readers) will be tested at the start and end of the Reception year, and again at the end of Year 1
- Sample 2: 600 Year 2 children (intermediate readers) will be tested once in the Spring of Year 2.
The research has three aims:
- To develop understanding of the different types of auditory and phonological skills displayed by primary school children
- To investigate how these skills impact upon literacy development
- To identify the pattern of difficulties shown by children who struggle with reading.
We are now back in schools from 14th May - 13th July re-assessing the Reception children for phase 3 of ALP. If you are participating in this phase and haven't already heard from us then you will do shortly.
This research will help lead to more effective early identification of children who are at risk of developing reading difficulties, and inform successful interventions. Your participation will make an important contribution.
Main University navigation links
