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Supporting Literacy Development at SWA
At Stamford Welland Academy, literacy sits at the heart of our curriculum. Strong skills unlock learning in every subject and set our students up for success in school and beyond.
Our ambition is simple: every student leaves us as a confident, fluent and skilled reader.
Our Literacy Vision
Guided by the Meridian Trust Reading Charter, we are committed to ensuring that all students:
- Read accurately, fluently and with understanding
- Develop a broad, ambitious vocabulary
- Access and respond to demanding texts across all subjects
- Communicate clearly in both written and spoken language
Literacy is a whole‑school responsibility. Every teacher is a teacher of reading.
How We Teach Reading
Our approach follows the four pillars of the Meridian Trust Reading Charter:
Knowledge – We understand how students learn to read and use reading assessments to identify different reader profiles, including those who need additional support.
Design – Our curriculum is carefully planned so students encounter high‑quality, appropriately challenging texts in every subject. Interventions are chosen and sequenced to build reading confidence and skill.
Practice – Teachers use a wide range of evidence‑informed reading strategies such as modelling, guided reading, and vocabulary instruction to support diverse reading needs.
Monitor & Prioritise – We track reading progress closely; prioritising students whose reading limits their access to the curriculum and adjusting support when needed.
Supporting All Readers
We recognise that students arrive with a wide range of reading experiences. We:
- Regularly assess reading ability
- Identify and support students who need additional help
- Prioritise students whose reading limits their access to the curriculum
- Monitor progress closely and adapt support as needed
Reading Across the Curriculum
Reading is embedded across subjects at SWA. Teachers:
- Select high‑quality, subject‑relevant texts
- Explicitly teach vocabulary
- Develop comprehension and inference strategies
- Build background knowledge needed for success
This helps every student access the full curriculum with confidence.
Bedrock Learning
All students use Bedrock Learning, our online literacy and vocabulary platform, both in school and at home.
Bedrock:
- Develops academic and subject-specific vocabulary
- Strengthens reading comprehension
- Supports independent learning
- Allows teachers to track progress and provide targeted support
Regular use of Bedrock helps students access learning more confidently across all subjects.
Supporting Literacy at Home
Parents and carers play a vital role in supporting literacy development. You can help by:
- Encouraging regular reading at home
- Talking to your child about what they are reading
- Supporting consistent use of Bedrock Learning
- Encouraging careful reading of homework and exam questions
Reading regularly at home has a significant impact on students’ confidence, vocabulary and overall achievement. By working together, school and home can ensure that every student develops the literacy skills they need to succeed. If you have any questions about literacy or reading support at Stamford Welland Academy, please contact the school.