Assessments had shown that learners were routinely misreading texts and failing to understand the foundations of any given text, which was leading to lower level answers. The DEAR project was trialled to help bridge the gap between reading frequency and attainment, as well as providing scaffolding to support learner comprehension, critical analysis, and understanding of the creative writing process. This involved using the Reading Agency's 'Quick Reads' scheme, DEAR Reading Circles and Writing Workshops. The project outcomes were very positive, with learners engaged, motivated and enjoying a structured approach to reading comprehension.