Our reading and spelling instruction is built on the Science of Reading, with a strong focus on phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. These elements are carefully taught through explicit lessons and reinforced through daily practice. Teachers help students make sense of how words work, both in sound and meaning, so they can read with confidence and accuracy.

We are guided by Hollis Scarborough’s Reading Rope, which illustrates how skilled reading is developed through the weaving together of language comprehension and word recognition. Each strand; such as background knowledge, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning, decoding, and sight recognition is explicitly taught and strengthened over time to help students become fluent, thoughtful readers.

Writing is taught through a clear and consistent framework that builds skills from the sentence level up. Students learn how to plan, structure, and revise their writing, while also developing the grammar and vocabulary needed to express their ideas clearly. We draw on evidence-based strategies such as The Writing Revolution and The Writing Rope to guide our teaching across all year levels.

We also prioritise building background knowledge, as we know this supports both reading comprehension and writing. Students are regularly exposed to rich texts, engaging topics, and meaningful discussions that strengthen their understanding of the world around them.

We use Spelling Mastery as part of our structured literacy approach to ensure students develop strong and accurate spelling skills. This evidence-based program teaches spelling through a combination of phonemic, morphemic, and whole word strategies, helping students understand how words are constructed and why they are spelled the way they are. Lessons are carefully sequenced and explicitly taught, with regular review and practice to support long-term retention. By following a clear and consistent routine, Spelling Mastery supports all learners building confidence, improving writing, and strengthening overall literacy.

Our goal is to ensure every student develops strong literacy skills in a supportive and well sequenced learning environment, one that sets them up for success, not just in English, but across the curriculum.