Explicit Improvement Agenda

Our school's explicit improvement agenda this year continues to be improving reading.  To do this we will still be using the systematic phonics programme, Sounds Write. Last year, Miss Downing and Miss Wendy were trained in this programme and are now using this knowledge to implement intervention to catch up students who require extra support.

This term, we will train Miss Andrea, Miss Tori, Mrs Lawton and Miss Vicky to ensure we have consistency of teaching across the lower school. The training in the use of this programme will begin next week. It is quite extensive, so these staff will be off class for one or two days a week for the next four weeks. The research behind the use of a systematic phonics-based approach in the teaching of reading, tells us that it is the most effective way for most of students to learn to read. As part of the programme, students from Prep to Year Three will take part in diagnostic assessment at the end of each term. This will clearly show teachers the reading stage the students are working at and what the next steps in teaching will be. Parents are encouraged to talk to their classroom teacher to be aware of how their child is progressing with reading and where possible to support with reading at home.​

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