FAQs - IDL Literacy

The reading and spelling test is available from the ‘Resources’ section of the tutor area of the website. Download and print a copy of the test before following the instructions provided to test each of your students. We recommend testing takes place in a one-to-one environment

You can test your pupils at any time by clicking the ‘Add Test’ button in the student profile. Retesting is as simple as printing and administering the test before entering their results in the Schedule Test section.

It’s completely up to you! As part of the Lottery Funded Project “Lifting Barriers”, all participating students were tested after 26 hours. We recommend that schools test once a term (having used IDL for a minimum of 1 hour per week in this time) due to the fact that over testing can diminish self-esteem if no progress is made. This also allows for learning retention and consolidation.

The spelling test should be administered on a one-to-one basis or in small groups. The reading test needs to be delivered one-on-one, preferably in quiet conditions to improve accuracy.

IDL Literacy is a revision-based programme with roughly 80% revision and 20% new learning. What this means in practice is that once a student has completed 70 new lessons, they will be taken to earlier revision lessons to consolidate their learning.

Check your audio as this could be a comprehension lesson. If so, the question is read out and the student needs to type the answer correctly and press space to enter it. If you believe there is a technical issue preventing progress, please inform one of our advisors including the relevant lesson module and number.

Perceived regression can be caused by a number of things such as inconsistent testing environments (leading to distraction and lower scoring), insufficient progress made between tests and overly lenient initial placement.

Check that they are clicking ‘Start here’ when they access the programme and not using the lesson book instead. Progress made using the lesson book will not be recorded. You must enter subsequent test scores in the pupil’s profile to see graphs and monitor progress accurately.

A green box within a pupil’s timeline denotes a completed module and shows the number of completed activities in this module along with the date of the last activity undertaken.

Log in using admin details, click the ‘Your People’ icon and click on the pencil next to the name of the student you would like to restrict access of. Untick any function of the programme under ‘Desktop Items’ to restrict these functions.

A license for IDL grants unlimited pupil accounts so a school should never run out. Only five pupils can be added to a trial version of the programme.

There are several potential reasons for this. It could be a dictation lesson where no words will appear on the screen as instruction is delivered via audio. It is possible that the pupil has selected  the same background colour as the text colour as to make it invisible. These colours can be changed from the ‘Colours’ icon at the bottom of the pupil log in screen or through their profile.

The log in details may be being entered incorrectly (check for spaces, punctuation etc.). Another member of staff may have changed the password. Ensure that the details are not being copied and pasted directly from the WELCOME email as this will not work.

The dates recorded in the programme are taken from the computer being used. If the dates are different, this will be to do with the computer the pupil is logged in on. Tutors should check the settings and liaise with the school’s IT department to rectify this.

If pupils are not able to hear the lesson audio, please click the link below.

https://appuk.idlsgroup.com/assets/audio/a459.mp3

If this is blocked and does not play, it could be that your firewall is preventing IDL from working correctly. We recommend contacting your IT service provider.

Dyslexic pupils can find contrasting colours easier to read. Pupils should select colours that they are comfortable with. Administrators can grant or remove pupil permission to change their own colours through the ‘Manage Pupil’ function.

Any age from 5+, there is no upper age limit to IDL

We recommend that students access the programme for a minimum of one hour per week. Sessions can be split however best fits with your school but it is most effective in short, targeted sessions of 15 to 20 minutes.

IDL is designed to be easy to administer and use. Pupils can make independent progress without requiring one-to-one support but we find that most schools will facilitate IDL in groups with a member of staff to supervise.

An IDL license includes unlimited accounts to your subscribed programmes accessible on all platforms including iPad, Android, laptops and PCs as well as free training sessions

The renewal fee for IDL is for continued access to the programme following the first year. This also covers all technical support and updates

The renewal date for your IDL licence is exactly one year from the date of purchase.