Tag: Reading Coach

Sharing Digital Innovation: Highlights from Our Staff Digital Network Meeting

Our latest Staff Digital Network meeting was all about practitioners sharing real classroom examples of how digital tools are enhancing learning and teaching. It was an inspiring evening filled with creativity, collaboration, and practical ideas to take back to schools.

Live from Blackburn PS: Coding Club in Action

We kicked off by joining the Digital Xtra Coding Club live at Blackburn Primary, where pupils from Blackburn and Murrayfield Primary showcased their work with the LEGO SPIKE Essentials kit. The girls spoke confidently about the skills they’ve been developing – collaboration, communication, and problem-solving – and wowed us with their latest creation: a pinball machine complete with lights and a motor to release the ball.

Promethean ActivSuite in Practice

Next, Sam from Riverside PS shared her experience using the new Promethean ActivSuite software. She highlighted the Whiteboard feature, describing it as the perfect balance between the inbuilt panel whiteboard and ActivInspire – simpler than Inspire, and it saves directly to the laptop. Sam demonstrated how she annotates images, resizes content while keeping annotations, and uses the spinner tool on her laptop to create lists in advance – currently for her Advent Calendar pupil recipient. A fantastic example of making interactive teaching more efficient.

Creative Expression with Adobe Express

We then had examples of pupils using Adobe Express to express themselves digitally, at Winchburgh PS, shared on behalf of Nicola. Highlights included:

  • Stunning displays featuring posters, artwork, and QR codes linking to webpages and videos.
  • Creative projects like Blitz-themed artwork, WWII recipe books, and P7 webpages to share learning with parents.
  • Use of Generative AI for mythical creature images, visually appealing posters on topics like Henry VIII and Spanish weather, and tools for data handling and worksheet creation. Pupils explored features such as QR code generation, layers, cropping, font editing, and image manipulation – building both technical and creative skills.

Microsoft Learning Accelerators

Phil from Carmondean PS gave a detailed overview of Microsoft Learning Accelerators, including Reflect, Reading Coach, Search Coach, and Speaker Coach. Feedback from pupils using Search Coach was particularly positive:

“It’s different from other search sites – it gives more relevant and reliable information and tips for online research.”

Promethean Panels in Early Learning

Finally, Dionne from St Mary’s Bathgate ELC shared how Promethean panels are supporting early learners through:

  • Staff modelling and collaborative drawing with split-screen.
  • Interactive activities using Top Marks, sharing home learning via Seesaw, and pupils presenting their work.
  • Practical tasks like Tesco online ordering for weekly snacks, making digital tools part of everyday learning.

Looking Ahead

This network meeting was a fantastic reminder of the creativity and innovation happening across our schools. Thank you again to everyone for coming along, and especially to those who shared.

If you’d like to share some of the ways you’ve been using digital to enhance learning and teaching in your class, please get in touch with the Digital Learning Team.

Spotlight on MS Reading Progress: Success Stories from St Mary’s Bathgate

We are delighted to share some recent success stories from St Mary’s Primary School, Bathgate, following their implementation of the Microsoft Reading Progress Learning Accelerator tool.

Reading Progress became a key focus for literacy and reading interventions following staff CLPL sessions in 2024 and reflection on attainment data. Focus was on supporting targeted pupils and breaking down barriers to learning around comprehension, as well as developing confidence, fluency and expression in their reading. Pupil Support Workers were also targeted in the training and staff sessions, in order to support pupils and build sustainability across the school. Pupils really enjoyed using Reading Progress and were excited when they began to see their improvements.

“Pupils feel secure using Reading Progress with a device. They can go off and record in a quiet space without an audience. The camera really draws them in and they can get instant feedback.”

Class Teacher

The insights generated provide clear data which can be used to support and plan next steps and SMART targets, as well as being used to verify teacher judgement. Line graphs are generated automatically for individual pupils and the class, based on accuracy and reading speed, as well as additional data provided for challenge words and expression in reading.

Unintended Results and Additional Success

Staff were thrilled to see not just an improvement in confidence, fluency and expression when using Reading Coach, but also within the wider class setting. Pupils began to volunteer to read out loud in front of the class, and participate more in class / group tasks with their peers.

“Pupils even began bringing in books from home to share and read – that didn’t happen before!”

Class Teacher

Microsoft Reading Progress and Reading Coach

Microsoft Reading Progress is a Teams based programme, in which the class teacher assigns a text for pupils to read out-loud and record. The platform analyses the recording and generates feedback based on pronunciation, fluency, expression and has the option to add in comprehension.


Microsoft Reading Coach is another Learning Accelerator which can be used within the Reading Progress assignment, or as a stand-alone feature either through immersive reader or through the new web-based app:
• Reading Progress tracks the progress of the learner.
• Reading coach offers support and opportunities to practice parts they find challenging.

The web-based app offers the chance for pupils to generate their own stories based on their interests, practice in their own time, and earn rewards for continued reading.

Well done again to St Mary’s, Bathgate. We are looking forward to see your continued progress next session!

Report a Glow concern
Cookie policy  Privacy policy