The BITC2 dataset outlines the findings from a follow-up randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluation of the Business in the Community's 'Time to Read' porogramme. The trial was undertaken between October 2009 and June 2010 and was a follow-up to a previous RCT conducted between 2006-2008. The second trial took on board recommendations that emerged during the first trial regarding the need to focus on more specific outcomes relating to literacy outcomes. Five hundred and twelve children aged between 8 and 9 years old form fifty schools across Norther Ireland took part; two hundred and sixty three were in the intervention group and two hundred and forty nine were in the control group. Both literacy and non-literacy outcomes were measured. Literacy skills measured included: decoding, reading rate, reading accuracy, reading fluency and comprehension. Educational aspirations were also measured as a non-literacy outcome.
Probability: Simple random. A total of fifty primary schools participated in this trial. Twenty three of these schools had taken poart in the previous trial (BITC1) and all had experience of delivering Time to read in their school. Year 5 teachers in participating schools were asked to identify children in their class who were below average in reading, lacked confidence in reading and who the teacher felt would benefit from the programme. Children who also had a statement of special educational needs were not eligible to take part.
Face-to-face interview: PAPI