Literacy News

Building Strong Readers: The Foundations of Literacy

At our school, we are committed to giving every child the strongest possible start in literacy. Research tells us that successful reading and writing development is built on a clear set of essential skills — and when these skills are taught explicitly and systematically, students thrive.

The 7 Essential Skills of Foundational Literacy

Foundational literacy relies on seven key skills. While they develop together, each one plays an important role in helping children become confident readers and writers. These skills include areas such as:

• Phonological awareness (hearing and working with sounds in words)
• Phonics (linking sounds to letters)
• Fluency (reading accurately and smoothly)
• Vocabulary (understanding word meanings)
• Comprehension (making meaning from text)
• Oral language (speaking and listening skills)
• Writing and spelling skills

Each of these pillars must be taught clearly, directly, and at the right “dose” — meaning students need enough practice, repetition, and feedback to master each skill. Literacy success does not happen by chance; it happens through careful, structured teaching.

The Importance of Explicit Teaching

Research shows that children learn best when teachers use explicit teaching strategies. This means:

• Clearly explaining what is being taught
• Modelling the skill step-by-step
• Providing guided practice with support
• Giving immediate feedback
• Allowing opportunities for independent practice

This structured approach ensures that no skill is left to guesswork. Students are shown exactly what to do and how to do it.

Expert Teachers Make the Difference

High-quality literacy instruction relies on teachers and school leaders having deep knowledge of these seven foundational pillars — understanding not just what they are, but how to teach them effectively.

Our staff engage in ongoing professional learning to strengthen their understanding of evidence-based literacy practices. This ensures classroom teaching reflects the most up-to-date research about how children learn to read and write.

Aligned with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 (VC2.0)

The key literacy skills identified by research are carefully mapped to the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 (VC2.0). This alignment ensures that what we teach in classrooms directly supports curriculum expectations, while also following the strongest available evidence about effective literacy instruction.

By focusing on these essential building blocks, and teaching them explicitly and systematically, we are ensuring that every student has the opportunity to become a confident, capable reader and writer.

If you would like to learn more about how literacy is taught at our school, we welcome to attend the following  Parent Education Evenings in supporting your child’s learning journey.

Parent Engagement In Learning Evenings

Prep - onsite 6-7pm

Year 5/6 online 7-8pm

Wednesday 18 March

Parent Engagement In Learning Evenings

Year 1 /2  online 6-7pm 

Year 3/4 online 7-8pm