DigiSmart

DigiSmart began in 2001 as a web-based programme designed to improve the reading, literacy and learning of under-achieving children. DigiSmart was successfully trialled and evaluated between 2001–2016, working with 1,000 schools, 3,400 teachers and 20,964 pupils. Over a 15-year period children’s performance in reading was tracked and assessed — before and again at the end of DigiSmart. A large body of evidence from 2002–2016 confirmed that ALL children improved in their reading; 90% of children made strong reading gains; and over 50% of children did better than age-related expectations. DigiSmart's positive impact on attainment was further confirmed in an External Evaluation by the University of Roehampton, London: “It is clear from the data collected during the research that pupils participating in DigiSmart achieve real progress in literacy. Impact is quick and sustained.” In 2016, to extend DigiSmart to more children and in response to requests from teachers to use it more flexibly, resources from the original programme were remodelled as apps and made available on the App Store. During this process we continued to work closely with schools to trial, monitor and assess impact. The portfolio was completed in 2022 with a newly developed DigiSmart Comprehension app, building on children’s acquisition of key reading skills taught by the DigiSmart Reading app. Our other apps focus on Writing, Numeracy, e-Safety and History. To date there have been over 100,000 downloads of DigiSmart apps. Some are free to download, others are low cost (with a 50% discount for educational institutions) to support the continuing publication and reach of the DigiSmart body of work so that many more children are able to benefit. DigiSmart is provided by LIFT for Learning, a charitable organisation whose team of educators spans experience of primary and secondary teaching, teacher training, assessment, authorship, digital media and university research.