In this study, teaching assistants (TAs) were trained to spend 4 min each day on a precision teaching programme with selected pupils, whose progress in word recognition was a cause for concern. Words were taken from "The National Literacy Strategy Framework for Schools". The sessions were set up to be "fun" times. All the pupils made progress and the majority were also reported to have improved in self-esteem and confidence. Junior boys particularly benefited from this stringently targeted regime with immediate feedback of results. Some had been displaying behaviour difficulties, and TAs also reported improved social performance and attendance rates. (Contains 6 tables.)