Literacy

At Eastbourne Primary School we are proactive in supporting our students with their literacy learning needs. We are very proud of our NAPLAN literacy data. All students in Foundation – Year 2 are assessed using Phonological Awareness. These assessments enable us to set individual goals for all students. All Foundation students engage in a comprehensive, research based phonemic awareness program.

At Eastbourne Primary School, we are transitioning to align with a science of reading approach, which means we are adopting evidence based practice for all reading instruction. In our Junior school, this includes direct explicit instruction with a systematic synthetic phonics program. We use initiaLit and all of our teachers have been trained in this. In 2023, our Grade 3 Naplan results were outstanding. We outperformed similar schools and the state in reading, writing, grammar and punctuation.

Students will experience how to write with flair through teacher modelling and by analysing and enjoying the writing of many great authors – including their peers. Students will be supported to move through the ‘Writing Cycle’ where they regularly publish and share their fabulous writing masterpieces. We support our students to write for a purpose – they write to persuade, inform and entertain. Students engage with regular one to one conferences with teaching staff.

Focusing on Speaking and Listening is a growing part of the curriculum at Eastbourne Primary School. All students in Foundation are screened to identify those who require extra speech therapy support. Students who are identified as requiring speech support, have made significant progress in their learning and self esteem. Our Speech Pathology Assistance program creates treatment plans for each student and monitors the daily delivery of therapy and support.

Each classroom has their own library for independent reading, where they can access picture story books, novels, magazines and non fiction texts. Our take home reading program is supported through a wide range of levelled texts, including fiction and non fiction.