Literacy at Greenhills

Giving every child the strongest start in life

Literacy is the key to success in learning, work and wellbeing. Research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) shows that children who develop strong reading, writing and communication skills do better across all areas of the curriculum and in later life.

At Greenhills, we believe this is a shared responsibility. When school and families work together, children make the fastest progress.

📚 Our approach

We deliver literacy through a clear, structured and inclusive pathway so that every child can succeed.

• a consistent, step-by-step programme from nursery to P7

• a new structured writing approach across the whole school

• direct teaching of reading and comprehension skills

• a strong focus on talk and vocabulary

• inclusive strategies for all learners
  
  

This structure helps children build skills year after year and ensures high standards for everyone.

✏️ Writing

We are introducing a new structured writing programme across the school.

Children learn to:

• plan their ideas

• build sentences and paragraphs

• edit and improve their work

• write for different purposes
  
  

This shared approach means children experience the same clear routines and language at every stage.

🔤 Phonological awareness and phonics

In the early stages, children develop their awareness of sounds through games, songs and play.

We then teach reading using a systematic synthetic phonics approach. This is strongly supported by research and helps children to:

• read words accurately

• spell using sounds

• become confident, independent readers
  
  

📖 Reading and understanding

Reading is about making meaning.

We teach children to:

• predict and ask questions

• explain their thinking

• make connections

• understand different types of texts
  
  

Teaching these skills directly has a very high impact on progress.

❤️ Reading for enjoyment

Children who enjoy reading read more often and achieve more.

We promote this through:

• daily reading in class

• high-quality texts and class novels

• opportunities to choose books

• welcoming library spaces
  
  

🧠 Spelling and vocabulary

We teach spelling in a clear, structured way so children understand patterns in words and can apply their phonics knowledge.

We also place a strong focus on vocabulary because knowing more words helps children to understand more of what they read and hear.

🗣️ Listening and talking

Communication is at the heart of learning.

Children learn to:

• share their ideas

• listen to others

• take part in discussion

• speak with confidence
  
  

For many of our ASN learners, we also use:

• visual communication supports

• assistive technology and AAC

• sensory and communication-rich approaches
  
  

This ensures every child can take part and be heard.

🌈 Inclusive for all

Inclusion is central to our literacy curriculum.

Our approaches are:

• visual

• structured

• repetitive

• carefully adapted to meet individual needs
  
  

All children are supported to achieve success at their own level.

How parents and families can help at home

🕒 Make time to read together

Just 10 minutes a day makes a huge difference.

You can:

• read to your child

• listen to them read

• talk about the story
  
  

💬 Talk as much as possible

Conversation builds vocabulary and understanding.

• talk about your day

• introduce new words

• ask your child questions

• encourage them to explain their ideas
  
  

🎵 Play with sounds and words

This helps early reading.

Try:

• nursery rhymes and songs

• “I spy” with sounds

• clapping syllables in words
  
  

✍️ Encourage writing

Writing does not always mean sentences.

You can encourage:

• drawing and labelling

• shopping lists

• notes and messages

• mark making
  
  

📚 Show that reading matters

Let your child see you:

• reading for enjoyment

• visiting the library

• talking about books
  
  

🤝 Work in partnership with us

If you are unsure how to help, we will:

• share strategies

• provide resources

• offer guidance
  
  

Together, we can give your child the best possible start in life through strong literacy skills.