'Literacy Octopus' Dissemination Trial: Evaluation Report and Executive Summary

Pippa Lord, Adam Rabiasz, Ben Styles

01 December 2017

The Literacy Octopus trials explored the impact of a variety of strategies to disseminate evidence-based materials to primary schools in England, all aimed at improving teaching and learning in Key Stage 2 literacy. The ‘dissemination’ trial sent materials to a large number of schools; the ‘literacy support’ trial included light touch support such as webinars and conferences in addition to the materials. Both explored the impact on pupil attainment.

The trials were funded by the Education Endowment Foundation, the Department for Education and the London Schools Excellence Fund, and conducted by NFER’s Education Trials Unit. The materials were provided by: the Institute for Effective Education; Campaign for Learning; the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring; and NatCen with ResearchEd.