CAL:ON Cymru aims to improve literacy outcomes for every child in Wales by delivering high quality, evidence informed, literacy programmes and interventions, short language and literacy assessments, and professional learning for teachers. All of our programmes and resources are available in Welsh and in English.
First, we are trialling each literacy programme to measure its effectiveness. This will be followed by a nationwide rollout of programmes in 2027. Assessments are already available to be used by schools.
CAL:ON Cymru will also produce national guidance documents and training for teachers.
Reading with your child at home is the best thing you can do to nurture interest in reading, and, more importantly, enjoyment in reading. Find stories and books your child is interested in and make reading a fun activity, rather than a chore.
Talking about new words and showing interest in what they are learning can help strengthen the skills they are practising in school.
The materials and assessments used in CAL:ON Cymru research are interactive and tailored to your child's current level, helping them to build skills step by step. Many children feel more confident as they see themselves making progress, which can help them enjoy learning more.
The programme developers are also keenly aware that motivating children to read is important, and particular attention has been paid to ensuring that our resources are engaging and interesting.
CAL:ON Cymru is built on scientific principles. This means that we are committed to testing all of our activities to measure how effective they are. If your child is participating, it is because their school has agreed to assist in this programme of research.
By taking part, your child will be one of the first to benefit from this project. The goal is to help children build reading fluency, comprehension, and confidence through structured, evidence-based activities, supporting them to make steady progress in literacy.
Participation in CAL:ON Cymru research is voluntary. If you wish to withdraw your child, you can do so at any time by letting your child’s teacher or the school know.