Building literacy from the ground up

Kilvington understands the importance of explicitly teaching the connections between sounds and letters to lay strong foundations for literacy success and we began this process four years ago. In 2021, Kilvington launched a project aimed at enhancing the reading proficiency of its students in Prep to Year 2. The School recognised that a key component of this challenge was selecting an effective phonics program. Leaders and staff undertook training through La Trobe University’s Science of Language and Reading short courses to build a deep understanding of best-practice literacy instruction before selecting a program. While these courses did not endorse a specific phonics program, they provided crucial insights into what was needed for the unique context of Kilvington.

Kilvington prioritised a program that would offer not only evidence-based pedagogy but also sustained staff support. After thorough research, observations at other schools, and discussions within literacy networks, Kilvington selected Read Write Inc (RWI), a structured SSP program that delivers a clear progression of skills, with regular assessment and regrouping to meet students’ individual needs.

Kilvington created dedicated, uninterrupted time in the school timetable for RWI, with all Prep–Year 2 students receiving daily instruction. The program includes:

• Speed Sounds lessons, where phoneme-grapheme connections are explicitly taught through multisensory strategies like “pinching the sounds.”

• Storybook lessons, where students apply their knowledge through reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar activities, often enhanced through oral rehearsal and role-play.

Results were immediate. Within three months, Prep students showed rapid gains in phonemic awareness. By mid-2023, many Year 1 and 2 students had already completed the program, exceeding expectations and highlighting the effectiveness of consistent, structured literacy instruction.

Recognising the need to continue explicit instruction beyond RWI, Kilvington adopted Word Origins in 2025—a word study and spelling program developed by the Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation. This next-step program introduces etymology and morphology, building on the foundation established in the early years. All Years 3–6 staff undertook training with DSF CEO Mandy Nayton OAM.