Intervention

A time-limited programme targeting a specific gap. Should have an entry point, an exit point and evidence.

What it is

An intervention is additional, structured teaching for a specific skill — a reading programme, a numeracy catch-up group, a social skills group — usually delivered outside or alongside the normal lesson.

Where it applies

Pupils identified as behind or as having a specific difficulty, on SEN support or otherwise.

How it works

A good intervention has a defined programme, trained staff, a set number of sessions, and a measure before and after.

The commonest failure modes are all about fidelity: sessions missed, delivered by untrained staff, or run indefinitely with nobody checking whether they work.

Withdrawal has a cost. A child taken out of the same lesson every week to do phonics is missing that lesson every week, and that trade-off should be a decision rather than an accident.

What you can ask for

Ask which lesson your child misses, and whether that is the right lesson to miss.

Ask how many sessions, over what period, and what will be measured. Then ask for the result at the end.

Ask what happens if it has not worked — a second round of the same thing is rarely the answer.

Where to get help

The SENCO. The Education Endowment Foundation's Teaching and Learning Toolkit rates the evidence behind common approaches, free.