Learning & Teaching

InitialWrite and SpellEx Introduction 2026

Over the past week, our staff have continued to deepen their professional learning in the area of Literacy as we work to strengthen consistent, evidence-informed practice across all year levels. Staff have been undertaking training in the MultiLit programs InitialWrite and SpellEx through the CESL Magnify initiative. These programs are designed to support students in developing foundational writing and spelling knowledge in a structured and explicit way. 

InitialWrite is a comprehensive early writing program that supports students as they learn to compose sentences and short texts with increasing independence. The program explicitly teaches the processes of planning, composing and editing writing, and guides students to apply the phonics knowledge they learn through InitiaLit to real writing tasks. InitialWrite provides carefully sequenced lessons and teacher modelling to support students in developing confident writing habits from the beginning of their schooling. 

SpellEx is a structured spelling program that teaches students how the English spelling system works. It focuses on building understanding of sound–letter patterns, spelling rules, common morphemes (units of meaning such as prefixes and suffixes) and the etymology (the origin) of words. Through regular practice and review, SpellEx helps students develop greater accuracy, automaticity and confidence in spelling, supporting them to become more fluent writers across all areas of the curriculum. 

This training will complement and build on the Literacy instruction already in place at St Patrick’s. In Foundation to Year 2, we will continue to deliver InitiaLit, which provides a strong base in phonics, reading, and early writing. In Years 3 and 4, Literacy continues to be guided by the OCHRE English program, ensuring that students move into increasingly rich reading, writing and language experiences. The introduction of InitialWrite and SpellEx will support us to further strengthen writing and spelling instruction across the school, providing clarity of sequence, targeted small-group teaching, and opportunities for students to apply skills with confidence. 

Our staff are committed to ongoing professional growth and ensuring that each student has access to high-quality teaching and learning. We look forward to implementing these programs within our Literacy Block and seeing the positive impact on student progress and engagement. 

Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) Introduction 2026

We are also pleased to share that from 2026, St Patrick’s Primary School will introduce the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) program to further strengthen oral language development for Foundation students. This initiative is part of our ongoing involvement in the CESL Magnify professional learning strategy, which supports schools to embed high-impact, evidence-based Literacy practices.

NELI is an evidence-based intervention designed to improve the oral language skills of young children. The program provides structured small-group and one-to-one support focused on building vocabulary, developing sentence structure, improving storytelling skills and strengthening active listening. Sessions are play-based, engaging and carefully scaffolded to build students’ confidence in both understanding and using language.

Oral language is a critical foundation for early reading and writing. By nurturing strong speaking and listening skills in the early years, we support students to better engage with Literacy learning and communicate effectively across all aspects of school life. Introducing NELI will work alongside InitiaLit and InitialWrite to provide a consistent, aligned and high-quality approach to early language and literacy development.