There is disclosed a method of providing through-thickness reinforcement in a laminated material. A guide foot is moved to a datum location relative the laminated material, at which the guide foot abuts a reinforcement zone on a surface of the laminated material. An insertion operation is conducted by inserting an insertion element through the guide foot into the laminated material along an insertion direction when the guide foot is in the datum location. The insertion element comprises a needle for forming a hole in the laminated material; a reinforcement rod to be received in the laminated material; or a tamping pin for tamping a reinforcement rod received in the laminated material. A corresponding insertion apparatus is disclosed.