Kyne: An Innovative Literacy App MVP
Lead Participant:
KYNE: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD
Abstract
**The UK has a massive illiteracy problem.**
7.1 million adults struggle to read and write, which is not surprising when you consider that 80% of dyslexic children leave school without a diagnosis. Illiteracy costs the UK economy £37 billion (OECD). If this sounds on the high side, consider that 50% of the prison population have reading ages of 11 or lower, and industries are crying out for well-educated, literate talent.
**Research shows that supporting pre-school language skills could boost the economy by £1.2bn.**
Promoting early literacy development and proactively identifying literacy problems has emerged as a critical societal challenge.
**Kyne is a proactive early literacy platform** that starts engaging children as soon as they begin to scribble. Kyne toddlers naturally explore letters and their sounds through playful activities, fostering early literacy development. By eliminating the need for instructional learning readiness, they will be ahead of their peers and more likely to become confident reading and writing champions right from their first day of school.
This initiative eases the workload for reception-year teachers. They often provide extensive support to many children identified by the DfE as not school-ready. It establishes a strong foundation for literacy development in all children, especially those with dyslexia and other SEND. The approach fosters equitable and enriching literacy journeys for every student.
**Kyne keeps track of a child's literacy journey** and helps parents, teachers, and children stay connected. Parents receive notifications on essential milestones and can see their child's progress through the dashboard. They can stay involved, spot challenges, and address setbacks before they become embedded.
When parents participate in their children's education, we see better results in school, good attendance, and better behaviour. These kids are more likely to achieve A-level standards and pursue higher education.
**Kyne brings a fresh approach to dyslexia screening.** Instead of waiting for kids to fail and then intervening (often when it is too late), Kyne weaves continuous screening into the child's literacy journey and flags problems as they occur. Instead of pulling kids out of the river, we work upstream to stop them from falling in.
**UK pre-schoolers spend about three hours on screen every day.** Kyne exploits this as an opportunity to "go with the grain," making that screen time more valuable. How kids interact with screens really affects their development. We can improve their quality of screen time and make a positive impact on their overall growth.
7.1 million adults struggle to read and write, which is not surprising when you consider that 80% of dyslexic children leave school without a diagnosis. Illiteracy costs the UK economy £37 billion (OECD). If this sounds on the high side, consider that 50% of the prison population have reading ages of 11 or lower, and industries are crying out for well-educated, literate talent.
**Research shows that supporting pre-school language skills could boost the economy by £1.2bn.**
Promoting early literacy development and proactively identifying literacy problems has emerged as a critical societal challenge.
**Kyne is a proactive early literacy platform** that starts engaging children as soon as they begin to scribble. Kyne toddlers naturally explore letters and their sounds through playful activities, fostering early literacy development. By eliminating the need for instructional learning readiness, they will be ahead of their peers and more likely to become confident reading and writing champions right from their first day of school.
This initiative eases the workload for reception-year teachers. They often provide extensive support to many children identified by the DfE as not school-ready. It establishes a strong foundation for literacy development in all children, especially those with dyslexia and other SEND. The approach fosters equitable and enriching literacy journeys for every student.
**Kyne keeps track of a child's literacy journey** and helps parents, teachers, and children stay connected. Parents receive notifications on essential milestones and can see their child's progress through the dashboard. They can stay involved, spot challenges, and address setbacks before they become embedded.
When parents participate in their children's education, we see better results in school, good attendance, and better behaviour. These kids are more likely to achieve A-level standards and pursue higher education.
**Kyne brings a fresh approach to dyslexia screening.** Instead of waiting for kids to fail and then intervening (often when it is too late), Kyne weaves continuous screening into the child's literacy journey and flags problems as they occur. Instead of pulling kids out of the river, we work upstream to stop them from falling in.
**UK pre-schoolers spend about three hours on screen every day.** Kyne exploits this as an opportunity to "go with the grain," making that screen time more valuable. How kids interact with screens really affects their development. We can improve their quality of screen time and make a positive impact on their overall growth.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| KYNE: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD | £15,000 | £ 15,000 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Raymond Staines (Project Manager) |