Leading on Intervention: Strengthening the quality of everyday inclusive teaching

The waves of intervention model

The waves of intervention model expresses the idea of intervening systematically at a number of levels, and through progressively more tailored teaching and provision.

To learn more about the wave model you can either click on the diagram once it has animated, click through the pages above, or download the MS Word document below.

Waves of intervention model

Wave 1

Wave 1 is about what should be on offer for all children: the effective inclusion of all pupils in high-quality everyday personalised teaching. Such teaching will, for example, be based on clear objectives that are shared with the children and returned to at the end of the lesson; carefully explain new vocabulary; use lively, interactive teaching styles and make maximum use of visual and kinaesthetic as well as auditory/verbal learning. Approaches like these are the best way to reduce, from the start, the number of children who need extra help with their learning or behaviour.

Wave 2

Wave 2 describes targeted small-group intervention for pupils who can be expected to catch up with their peers. Examples are the Springboard mathematics programmes, the literacy programmes Early Literacy Support (ELS), Year 3 intervention, Further Literacy Support (FLS), and the ‘Silver set’ group work from the social and emotional aspects of learning (SEAL) materials. The Primary National Strategy will continue to ensure that quality assured Wave 2 programmes are available to support the revised Primary Framework. Wave 2 intervention is designed for children for whom a well structured short- term programme, possibly delivered by a teaching assistant working with a teacher, is all that is needed to enable them to make accelerated progress.

Wave 3

Wave 3 is about intervention for children for whom Quality First teaching and Wave 2 catch-up programmes are not enough. It may need to be a more intensive programme, involving more individual support or specialist expertise.

Where it is working effectively, the waves model will have a funnelling effect, reducing through Quality First teaching the numbers requiring Wave 2 intervention, and through Wave 2 the numbers who need more intensive and individual help. This means that schools will be able to target their resources more effectively, at fewer children.

Evaluating tools for Wave 1

A number of tools are available to help you work in your own school or a school you are supporting to evaluate and where necessary improve the quality of children's Wave 1 experience (see attached). You will want to use these alongside relevant subject coordinators and members of the senior leadership team.