By Penny Slater, Partnership Lead
Over the past several years, HFL Education has had the privilege of working with a growing number of the DfE English Hubs – centres of excellence in early reading, phonics and wider literacy provision. This partnership has developed into a powerful alliance rooted in shared values and mutual respect, and in a deep commitment to improving literacy outcomes for all children.
At the heart of this collaboration lies a simple but powerful belief that every school should have easy access to high-quality, evidence-informed support in their locality. English Hubs, funded by the DfE, are uniquely positioned to provide this.
Over the years, HFL Education has worked with English Hubs across the country to share best practice and widen the reach of some of our most impactful programmes, including the Reading Fluency Project, Fixing Full Stops and Essential Spelling.
The success of these programmes has been amplified through our collaboration with English Hubs. Their expert leads have brought not only a wealth of knowledge and experience but also a deep understanding of the local context, enabling our programmes to be delivered with nuance and precision.
This year marks a significant milestone in this partnership, with the launch of the DfE’s new Medium Level Support Programme – Reading Fluency: The Bridge to Comprehension – a structured professional development series designed to help schools deepen understanding and improve practice in reading fluency across Key Stage 2. Written by HFL Education’s team of fluency specialists, the programme is being delivered by English Hubs across the country. It is a shining example of what can be achieved when national and local expertise come together in a truly joined-up approach.
As we look to the future, the role of English Hubs is set to grow even further, with the roll-out of the DfE’s new RISE (Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence) programme. Under RISE, English Hubs will be an important partner for schools in receipt of targeted funding who require support with their English provision.
The DfE has now published a comprehensive list of regional support, including the English Hubs operating in each area.
At HFL Education we are proud to be part of this evolving landscape. Our collaboration with English Hubs, and with the wider RISE agenda, has shown us what is possible when organisations come together with a shared purpose and a commitment to excellence. Partnerships like this remind us that we are stronger together, and that by pooling our knowledge, skills and resources, we can achieve more than we ever could alone.
If you’d like to find out more, email penny.slater@hfleducation.org.
