Explicit approach results in rapid learning gains
After a Phonics Screening Check in 2020, St Mary’s College Seymour adopted InitiaLit for its whole-class literacy instruction in 2021. This decision has led to encouraging improvements year on year, and by 2024, 80% of Year 3 students were in the top two proficiency bands in NAPLAN.
Located in regional Victoria, St Mary’s College, Seymour is a combined primary and secondary college with a diverse student enrolment who arrive at school with a wide range of early learning experiences and varying pre-literacy skills.
The disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic only compounded this discrepancy, and it became apparent that a large proportion of Year 1 students were struggling to learn to read. The results of a Phonics Screening Check cemented the decision by St Mary’s College Seymour to change its approach to teaching reading and prompted their adoption of InitiaLit.
After a pre-screening of students’ existing skills and competencies, the school made the decision to start with the InitiaLit-F program for Year 1 students as well as Prep students. This allowed these students to catch up, and the benefits were soon seen in the school’s NAPLAN results.
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