Lexia® Core5® Reading (Lexia) is a technology-led adaptive literacy programme that aims to improve primary pupils’ reading outcomes.
Following a short diagnostic assessment, pupils work independently through personalised activities tailored to their needs, while teachers receive real-time progress data to inform support. The programme also provides printable resources to reinforce specific skills when needed.
The programme can be used with any number of primary-age pupils across Key Stages 1 and 2. However, the EEF evaluations focused on struggling readers in Year 2. Schools selected eight to sixteen pupils to complete four to five 30-minute sessions each week for at least 12 weeks. They were supported by teachers and teaching assistants using Lexia’s reporting tools and printable resources.
There is a strong evidence base underpinning the programme’s approach. The EEF’s Teaching and Learning Toolkit shows that individualised instruction and one-to-one tuition can have a high impact on pupil outcomes, with pupils making an average of four and five additional months’ progress respectively.
The programme brings together several elements associated with effective reading instruction, including systematic phonics, reading fluency practice, and personalised, adaptive digital learning that responds to pupils’ individual needs.
The EEF has evaluated Lexia through two trials: an efficacy trial and a larger effectiveness trial. Both found a positive impact on pupils’ reading outcomes.
The larger effectiveness trial found that struggling readers in schools delivering Lexia made two additional months’ progress in reading, on average, compared with similar pupils in comparison schools. This trial received a four-padlock security rating, which means there is a high level of confidence in the findings.
The programme had a positive impact across several important reading skills. Pupils made two additional months’ progress in word identification, applying phonics, and reading comprehension. Pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) made similar progress, although this finding is based on a smaller group of pupils and should be interpreted with caution.
Further exploratory analysis suggested that the programme’s impact varied between groups of pupils.
- Struggling readers who started the trial with stronger reading skills at the start of the trial, and those without special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), tended to make more progress than pupils who started out with weaker reading skills or SEND.
- Struggling readers with English as an Additional Language (EAL) made three additional months’ progress in reading. However, these findings are based on smaller numbers of pupils and should be treated with caution.
Overall, the findings suggest that the programme’s combination of evidence-informed reading instruction with an adaptive EdTech learning platform can improve reading outcomes for struggling readers. On the basis of these positive results, the EEF has designated Lexia a Promising Programme.
- The latest effectiveness trial took place in 224 schools across England.
- Of the 2,197 pupils who participated in the trial, 724 (33%) were eligible for FSM. This is substantially higher than the national average of 24%, suggesting that the trial included a greater proportion of disadvantaged pupils than is typical nationally. As a result, the findings are likely to be particularly relevant for schools serving more disadvantaged communities.
- 50% of schools were located in Education Investment Areas (EIAs) – educationally underperforming areas prioritised by the government for further support and funding.
- Around 22% of pupils had EAL, which is slightly higher than the national average of 19.5%, and 28% of pupils had SEND, which is substantially higher than the national average of 13.5%.
- To deliver Lexia, schools need access to computers and internet connection, as the programme is largely delivered online with the support of downloadable printable teacher resources.
- Lexia sessions require one device (tablet, laptop, PC, etc.) per child. Some schools in the effectiveness trial reported additional purchases such as headphones.
- Teachers and TAs receive three training sessions (75 minutes each) and ongoing support from Lexia throughout the programme.
- Staff who took part in the evaluation did not identify any major barriers to implementing the programme.
- For the programme as trialled in the latest evaluation, the average cost of implementing Lexia was £4,186 per school over three years, equivalent to £27.91 per pupil, per year.
- These costs include staff training, ongoing support and programme materials.
- This is an estimate of holistic school costs to implement the programme at the time of evaluation, schools will need to check the current cost of the programme through LexiaUK.
- Lexia® Core5® Reading is available nationally through http://www.lexiauk.co.uk.
- Lexia is available to purchase and can be used with all primary school year groups. However, the EEF has only evaluated the impact on Year 2 pupils. Schools typically purchase a three-year licence package.
- At the time of publication, the commercially available programme included the same training model as evaluated in the EEF effectiveness trial: three 75 minute sessions of online training for teachers and teaching assistants and ongoing support available as required from the Lexia UK team.
- LexiaUK also provide a secondary school technology-led adaptive programme called Lexia® PowerUp Literacy® (though this has not been evaluated by the EEF).
- Further guidance can be found in the EEF’s Teaching and Learning Toolkit strands on individualised instruction and one-to-one tuition, as well as the EEF’s guidance on improving literacy in key stage 1.