Literacy

​

At Warburton Primary School, literacy is a priority and every student participates in a dedicated one-hour literacy block each morning. We use the Little Learners Love Literacy® program, an explicit and sequential approach that teaches students the essential skills needed to become confident readers, writers and spellers.

​

Our literacy program combines whole-class instruction with targeted small-group teaching, ensuring that every student receives the support and challenge they need. Teachers use ongoing assessment and student data to identify learning needs and plan instruction that is responsive, purposeful and effective.

​

For students requiring additional support, we offer the MacqLit intervention program. MacqLit is an evidence-based reading intervention designed for students who need extra assistance in developing reading accuracy, fluency and comprehension. Delivered in small groups, it provides structured, explicit instruction to build confidence and accelerate progress in reading.

​

Reading

Students engage in a rich reading program that develops decoding, fluency, comprehension and a love of literature. Through the Little Learners Love Literacy® approach, students build strong phonics knowledge and apply this understanding across their reading and writing.

​

Alongside explicit instruction, students explore high-quality whole-class texts that expose them to a wide range of authors, genres and ideas. These shared reading experiences provide opportunities for discussion, critical thinking and deeper comprehension.

​

Students are also supported to select “right fit” books that match their current reading level while still providing appropriate challenge. Through their individual book boxes, students are encouraged to develop independence, set reading goals and gradually challenge themselves with increasingly complex texts. This approach builds reading stamina, confidence and a lifelong enjoyment of reading.

​

Writing

Writing instruction at Warburton Primary School is supported through the VCOP approach, which focuses on developing students' use of Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers and Punctuation. VCOP provides students with practical tools to improve the quality and sophistication of their writing while building confidence and independence.

​

Students also maintain a Writer’s Notebook, a personal space where they collect ideas, observations, experiences and inspirations for writing. This encourages creativity, reflection and the development of an authentic writer’s voice.

​

As students progress through the school, they explore a range of writing genres, including narrative, persuasive, informative and poetry. Through explicit teaching, modelling and regular opportunities to write, students become increasingly independent writers who can adapt their writing for different purposes and audiences.

​

Each term, all classes participate in a Big Write experience, where students are given a shared prompt and supported to plan, draft and publish a piece of writing. This process develops students’ ability to write at length, apply VCOP strategies, and demonstrate their writing progress over time. Student writing is assessed using the Andrell Education Criteria Scale, providing a consistent framework for measuring growth and informing future teaching and learning.

 

The methodology underpinning Big Write, Big Talk and VCOP is based on best-practice pedagogy and is supported by extensive educational research. These approaches emphasise the importance of oral language development, explicit teaching, and structured opportunities for students to apply their learning in meaningful contexts.

​

Spelling and Word Study

Senior students also engage in the SMART Spelling program, which supports the development of spelling through a structured and systematic approach. This program helps students build strong orthographic knowledge, understand spelling patterns, and apply rules with increasing accuracy and confidence.

​

Across the school, students also participate in word study, where they explore the structure, meaning and patterns of words. This includes phonics, morphology, vocabulary development and etymology, supporting students to become more confident readers, writers and spellers.

​

Through our comprehensive literacy program, we aim to develop skilled, confident communicators who are equipped for success both at school and beyond.

​

​How can I help my child develop as a reader at home? 

• Talk about books as a family. 

• Read with your child every day. 

• Ask your child to share with you what he or she is reading.

• Ask questions such as, 'What was your favourite part?' 'Why?' 'Tell me one thing you learned about your topic that you are reading about.' 

• Make reading a priority. Young readers can reread old favourites, read the pictures, and tell stories and nursery rhymes with the adult reader. Older readers can benefit from reading a series or many books by the same author. Adults can read the same book and discuss it with the child. 

• Trust your child’s teacher to match the reader with the right text for learning- each book is essential!

 

'Literacy' related words to know: 

Comprehension: Understanding what is read. 

​

Fluency: The ability to read at an appropriate rate, with accuracy and proper expression. 

​

Stamina: The ability to slowly increase the amount of time spent reading independently with focus and engagement. 

​

Good-Fit Book: A book at an independent level that a child can read with understanding for practice of skills being taught. 

​

Instructional-Level Text: A text read with teacher guidance to assist the reader in advancing levels with direct teaching. 

​

Reading Log: A place to record book titles, pages read, and time spent reading, and used to monitor and understand the child as a reader. 

​

MacqLit Intervention 
MacqLit is an explicit and systematic reading intervention program for small groups of older low-progress readers. It provides teachers with a comprehensive sequence of lessons that includes all the key components necessary for effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.