The MAT Pilot Program at Scanning Pens is a specialist pilot program where we invite educators and leaders in Multi-Academy Trusts to trial our grade-saving reading pen technology, risk-free, for 60 days.
That’s 30 days more than a standard reading pen pilot, meaning that you’ve got even more time to implement, observe the results, and really dig into how reading pens can make a real difference in your setting.
…And that means your Trust is going to be able to see the impact of award-winning text-to-speech reading support first-hand, and watch as learner skills grow and develop. And that’s all without taking on the elements of guesswork and financial risk that come with far too many assistive tech purchases these days.
Why? Because we know that there’s a reading emergency in our schools.
One in four children left primary school in 2025 unable to read to the required standard. That skill gap is going to compromise their learning throughout secondary school unless we intervene and ensure they have the support they need to develop the same standard of literacy as their peers.
Of those learners in secondary school who are currently learning without support in place, so many will see those skill gaps deepen—and we know that low literacy is going to limit post-16 choices for so many, lead to their poorer educational and economic outcomes. The stakes are high.
And of those struggling learners, many are going to have…
✔️Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
✔️English as an Additional Language (EAL)
✔️Attention or anxiety challenges that impact reading, classroom comfort and concentration
✔️Reading needs that started during pandemic school closures, and have now become entrenched
These students’ futures are at stake: literacy unlocks the curriculum, and without it, grades and futures suffer.
Now more than ever, it’s vitally important that every learner has the tools they need to succeed.
That’s why MATs are increasingly turning to reading pens.
A reading pen is an EdTech tool that turns words on the page into audio feedback. Just move the tip of the pen along the page to get started!
By transforming reading into a multi-modal act, it supports learners with reading differences in honing their understanding, fluency and comprehension, as well as developing their ability to map phonemes to graphemes.
✅Lightning-fast customisable audio
✅Built-in practice and definition tools
✅Scan to file functionality and voice recorder tools
✅8hr+ rechargeable battery
✅Scan in multiple languages
✅Durable and dependable
✅Zero-storage exam models available
Models like C-Pen Reader 3 combine dependable text-to-speech with practice and online definition and translation functions for a holistic support experience, and C-Pen Reader 2 can be used anywhere, any time, and with the option to lock off storage and definitions for SATs use.
There are also dedicated zero-storage models like C-Pen Exam Reader 2 that have text-to-speech-only interfaces, so that they can be used during GCSEs, when many learners need reading support the most.
So here’s how reading pens are changing the story in schools and Trusts like yours!
🏆10 extra months of reading progress in only 8 weeks at George Dixon Primary School!
George Dixon Primary School in Birmingham saw 10 students (Years 4–6) using C-Pen Reader 2 to support their literacy and learning, and the outcomes speak for themselves:
Accuracy: +10.24 months
Comprehension: +10.42 months
Reading rate: +7 months
“Students showed increased confidence, greater classroom participation, and more independence in their learning.” — Samina Hussain, SENCO
🏆Prince Albert High School saw over a year of reading accuracy gains for older students
At Prince Albert High School, Birmingham, reading pens saw a nurture group of Year 8 learners make dramatic progress, even though these interventions were applied when they were outside the early intervention window— with over a year of reading accuracy gains.
Accuracy: +1 year 4 months
Comprehension: +5.4 months
Reading rate: +2.4 months
“Daily use of reading pens led to increased literacy, greater learning confidence, and improved student engagement!”
🏆And Nishkam High School’s paired approach saw reading reach staggering new heights!
Nishkam High School’s Hub Project paired Reader 2 with Literacy Junction phonics, and gained almost 2 years of reading progress in 10 term-time weeks!
“This pairing and coaching approach enabled rapid gains in reading and comprehension, especially for secondary learners with SEN.” — Liz Darby, Literacy Lead
Give reading progress a boost in your schools with the Scanning Pens Pilot Program!
The Scanning Pens MATs Pilot Program is designed for any MAT that has 5 or more schools looking to make real reading progress this term.
We’ve kept then process super simple: you get a FREE trial of our award-winning devices, as well as all the resources, monitoring and implementation support you need. Throughout the program, you and your team will be guided by our expert representatives, who will coach you remotely on how to get the most out of these clever little pens. At the end, we come back together to assess those results, do a final troubleshoot, and support you to put a reading pen into the hand of each and every learner who needs reading support this term.
And if you want to continue the journey…
…Chat with your Scanning Pens representative about keeping the pens you’ve trialled, or scaling the solution to fit student needs right across your Multi-Academy Trust!
But that’s not all: you’ll also receive CPD & post-pilot support
✔️1-hour CPD session for all pilot MATs ✔️3-hour CPD session for schools that purchase
✔️Advanced CPD modules for SENCOs and literacy leads
And here’s the million-dollar question: do our pilot program schools and Trust recommend our reading pens?
All of the children love them: it has enabled them to be free with reading like never before. Children are telling me ‘10 out 10’ for how much they enjoy using them!
— Elms Farm Primary School Birmingham Pilot Program
I used to get frustrated every day when I was trying to read. Now I know I have dyslexia and I have a reading pen to use, I don't feel frustrated any more.
— Child B, Barr View Primary & Nursery Academy DLP Pilot Program
The trials have been great. They have been used in Year 4 and Year 5, and children can access higher level texts and fully join in curriculum lessons!
— Pilot Program Leader, Southway Primary School United Learning Trust Pilot Program
So how does my Trust start its reading pen journey?
To find out more about the Scanning Pens Multi-Academy Trust Pilot Program, check out our MATs Pilot Program hub page, where you can kickstart your 60-day pilot and get started on the path to revolutionising reading support in your Trust.
And if you’re looking for ways to support young readers without maxing your budget or making a huge funding outlay this term, check out the new Scanning Pens leasing program – where we help schools, Local Authorities and Trusts like yours access award-winning reading support for just 24p a day!
And finally, we’re a chatty bunch. If you want to speak to one of our reading support experts about supporting the reading needs in your setting, we’re always happy to explore in-depth solutions with you and your finance department.
📧Drop us a line: ukinfo@scanningpens.com
☎️Give us a call: +44 (0) 207 976 4910