Amanda Barber

Former teacher of 28 years, now happily working for Lexonik delivering literacy interventions.

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

Super committed delegates @TheUCSchool Bolton continuing their Lexonik journey with our Advance programme! Processing sounds at speed and improving vocabulary at the same time. The perfect follow on from our Leap phonics programme 📚
@LexonikST #reading#olderlearners#vocabulary

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

Super committed delegates working towards improving the reading of their students @UnsworthAcademy last week. Our Advance programme adopts many of the DfE recommended strategies for supporting reading in secondary schools (April 25)
@LexonikST

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

Loved working with delegates @Grange_School training alongside my colleague Farrah! Look at the excitement when receiving our fabulous resources aimed at improving phonics skills for older readers 😍📚Thanks for the hospitality and enthusiasm.
@LexonikST

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

An absolute pleasure to work with super committed staff @ValleyLAcademy delivering our Advance programme aimed at boosting reading and developing vocabulary 📚@StarAcademies @LexonikST

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

Far too much fun on our Leap training day with Primary delegates @olympustrust hoping to give their older learners a phonics boost before Secondary.
@LexonikST @bradleystokecs @filtonhillpri @Callicroft @CharboroughRd Meadowbank StokeLodge 📚

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

@BBCr4today @jamieoliver We need to stop so many of our students having this experience at school. Ask the questions of the your child’s school- how are you helping my child who is struggling with reading? What can I do to help as a parent? @LexonikST offering impactful solutions.

[BBC Radio 4 Today @BBCr4today]

"I thought it was just me but there's hundreds of thousands of us."

Chef and campaigner @jamieoliver reflects on his education as someone with dyslexia, and the impact of sharing his story publicly.

#R4Today

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

@KatyMParkinson Saw it last weekend and loved it! Hope you do too x

[Darren Leslie @dnleslie]

One of the biggest conversations in Scottish education today is how we teach children to read. In my latest article for @TesScotland I explore the impact a phonics-first approach could have on literacy in Scotland.

For too long, reading instruction has been shaped by mixed methods, often without a strong foundation in the science of reading. But we now have a growing body of evidence showing that systematic synthetic phonics is the most effective way to ensure all children become fluent readers.

In Scotland, our literacy rates tell a complex story. While many children thrive, too many struggle—particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. A phonics-first approach offers a way to close this gap by ensuring every child masters the alphabetic code and develops the skills they need to access the full curriculum.

Some fear that focusing on phonics means sidelining comprehension, vocabulary, and a love of reading. This is a misconception. Phonics is the gateway to reading, not the end goal. Once children can decode with confidence, they are far better placed to engage with rich texts, think deeply, and develop a lifelong reading habit.

If we want to improve literacy in Scotland, we need to ensure our approach is informed by the best evidence. A structured, research-backed phonics program can give every child the strongest possible start. The question is no longer whether phonics works, but whether we have the will to ensure every child benefits from it.

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

@dnleslie @TesScotland So very true Darren 👏🏻 As a former EYFS teacher and now trainer for Lexonik I can wholeheartedly agree with using phonics to ensure no one is limited because they can’t read.

[Department for Education @educationgovuk]

Just 1 in 3 children aged 8 and 18 enjoy reading.

The government is making a £2m investment to improve pupils’ reading and writing, building on the Education Secretary @bphillipsonmp’s plan for a new era of school standards 📚

Find out more ➡️ https://t.co/Ych04l4Q9C

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

A super busy day working with staff from two trusts, committed to raising reading standards using our Leap phonic based programme @LexonikST @QUESTtrust @CATAcademyTrust @beechcliffe @oulton_academy @UCS Bolton

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

Excellent training @wvrcollege working with delegates committed to raising reading students 📚@LexonikST
#gcseenglish #readingsupportforolderlearners

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

Well that’s a wrap! Finished my 6 week reading and vocabulary enrichment (Lexonik Advance) with some of the lovely Y10 students @WorkingtonAcad
So impressed with their progress.
On average 37 months reading age gain for them in 6 weeks.
@LexonikST @CE_Trust

[Lexonic - literacy at the speed of sound @LexonicST]

Are you a teacher who would like to introduce some fun and festive magic to your lessons? 🎄

Our new free resource, featuring 12 extracts from Christmas-themed literature, and a range of comprehension questions, will do just that!

Download now: https://t.co/elbDnPA7ZI

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

A days training in phonics for older students in a Cumbria Education Trust School today at Workington Academy
Brilliant commitment to improving reading standards. Looking forward to working with you after half term 📚
@LexonikST @CE_Trust @WorkingtonAcad

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

Excellent two days training in Advance with staff from @embarkfed developing vocabulary, comprehension and fluency. Looking forward to hearing how you get on 📚⭐️
@LexonikST
@BCSchool1 @ParksideSch @AldercarHigh @AGS_Wirksworth

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

Great way to start the week with delegates committed to improving the phonics skills of their older students and those with EAL
@UniversityCollegiateSchool
@FairfieldHSFG
@LexonikST

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

A successful two days training in Advance with a team of staff from the English, Science and PE department at Ifield Community College. Great to have colleagues from different departments learning how to help children improve their reading and vocabulary @LexonikST

[Amanda Barber @amanda_Lexonik]

What an amazing week spent in Qatar delivering training @PHESDoha
Thanks for the hospitality, enthusiasm and local recommendations. We can’t wait to hear how you get on delivering your Leap and Advance programmes with your lovely students @LexonikST