A web-based educational programme is delivering swift and positive results in boosting the reading skills of 11-year-olds, according to the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).

The charity revealed that Accelerated Reader has been found to boost the reading age of Year 7 pupils by three additional months over a 22-week period.

Most notably, analysis of data showed that youngsters from low-income families benefited the most from this approach to reading, with their reading age "improving by five additional months in the same amount of time".

"Good literacy and numeracy skills are essential to success both in secondary school and later in life so it’s hugely promising that today’s results have provided us with evidence for effective ways to do just that," said Dr Kevan Collins, chief executive of the EEF.

"With programmes like Accelerated Reader showing particularly positive effects, especially for low-income pupils, we are confident that the results of today’s reports will go some way in helping teachers to close their attainment gap."

The cost of the programme is roughly £9 per pupils, which the charity says is, based on these findings, a cost-effective way of enhancing the reading skills of "weaker and low-income pupils at the important transitions from primary to secondary school".

Some of the features of Accelerated Reader includes the ability to suggest books to read, which factors in things like current reading age and what their interests are.

This analysis was published as part of a group of reports from the EEF. One of its other studies showed that phonics techniques, which are often deployed at primary school level, can be used effectively to help those struggling with reading at secondary school.

Spending as little as one hour a day on phonics-related activities was found to be highly effective as a "catch-up intervention for low-attaining readers".