Our approach gives students the skills they need to read and write confidently and thrive in their learning. It is based on proven research and our combined 40 years’ professional experience. While recognising the importance of phonemic awareness, we take students beyond the ‘mechanics’ of reading by exploring word families, etymology and the purpose of written texts. Students are taught to read beyond the surface by looking for inferential meaning and considering the author’s intentions. Even in picture books, much of the meaning is conveyed via the illustrations, so from a young age students can be shown how to look beyond the literal meaning of words to deepen their understanding of the text.
This broader, meaning-focussed approach actually makes reading and writing easier. Rather than assigning ‘tricky words’ for students to learn by heart out of context, we consider why words are spelled in certain ways; this gives a more satisfactory explanation and makes them easier to remember. For example, the silent ‘g’ in sign is easier to remember when you consider that it comes from the same word family as signal and signature. When reading and writing are tied to meaningful communication, learning improves. Therefore, our approach involves studying stories written by real authors that have been enjoyed by children for generations.
Lessons are highly interactive and include ‘hands on’ materials for a sensory experience, ideal for students with learning needs. Sentences from the stories are written on cardboard strips that can be cut up and manipulated to explore the way language works. Students use highlighters to identify the key parts of a text. Individual whiteboards are used for handwriting, spelling practice and scaffolded writing, allowing students to erase and try again. This low-risk approach is ideal for reluctant writers or students struggling with anxiety.