The platform, Reading On Your Head, has been a passion project for Cowie, who has been working on it for four years alongside coding expert John Applin.

The website’s goal is to support children, particularly boys from disadvantaged backgrounds, by providing them and their parents with easy-to-use reading resources. With many children from low-income families falling behind in reading, Cowie wants to bridge the gap by making reading fun and accessible. The platform will allow kids to create quizzes, earn rewards, and even compete with friends in a way similar to the Times Tables Rockstars approach.

In addition to helping students, the site aims to ease the burden on teachers by providing a range of pre-made reading resources that can be used both online and offline. These tools also include guides to help parents support their children’s reading at home using methods aligned with what is taught in schools.

Thanks to the funding from Let Teachers SHINE, Cowie and his team will be able to improve the site’s design and add new content. They hope to expand the program from its initial test phase to a full launch, eventually reaching schools across the UK and beyond. Cowie describes winning the grant as “life-changing” and is excited about the potential impact of his project.

Reading On Your Head will be showcased at the TES SEND North Show 2025, where attendees can visit Stand F50 to learn more about the platform and its mission to make reading accessible and engaging for all children.

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