Intent: Creating a Rich Literacy Curriculum
At Noremarsh, we set out to create a literacy curriculum that was imaginative, creative, and engaging for all pupils. Our goal was to embed literacy across the whole curriculum, making reading and writing a central part of learning both inside and outside the classroom. We aimed to strengthen connections between school, parents, and the wider community, fostering a culture where literacy was celebrated and valued.
To achieve this, we partnered with Literacy Tree 18 months ago. Our focus was on giving our teachers the confidence to unpick, adapt, model, and explore reading and writing through high-quality texts. We also wanted to integrate literacy into foundation subjects, reinforcing key skills and providing children with authentic opportunities to write with real purpose.
Implementation: A Whole-School Approach to Literacy
Since adopting Literacy Tree, we have systematically reviewed our planning to introduce high-quality texts into all subjects. For example, during guided reading, they read Africa, Amazing Africa, ensuring a rich and immersive experience.
To further embed a love of reading, we ensure that each child has their own copy of core texts whenever possible. These beautifully illustrated books become treasured resources that children handle with care, fostering a deep appreciation for literature.
Beyond the classroom, we have nurtured a school-wide literacy culture. Our leadership team actively models a passion for books - planning picture book assemblies, engaging with children during library time, and sharing book recommendations. Parental engagement has been a key focus, with workshops on supporting literacy at home and events where families can experience children’s writing firsthand.
One of our most impactful initiatives was an art and English gallery at the end of a trust-wide fortnight focusing on The Fox and the Star by Coralie Bickford-Smith. Literacy Tree have whole-school Writing Root plans for this and other texts, enabling the whole school to focus on the same story, themes and exploration! This particular event transformed our school into an immersive literary space, with stars suspended from ceilings leading families to a forest-themed reading area. The inclusion of cross-year group collaborations improved attendance among disadvantaged children, leading to 100% attendance from these groups.
Impact: Empowered Teachers and Enthusiastic Learners
Since rolling out Literacy Tree, our teachers have become more confident, creative, and excited about teaching English. Hook activities, called Discovery Points within Literacy Tree’s plans, are designed to be captivating, with staff dedicating time outside of school hours to set up engaging lessons. Shared text units have been a success, leading to three trust-wide literacy weeks per year, integrating subjects such as art and environmental education.
Our children’s enthusiasm for reading and writing is evident. The annual Trust-wide Poetry Slam is a much-anticipated event, where children work with professional poets and have their work published in an anthology. This year, we are expanding our offerings with a Trust-wide Short Story Competition, further embedding a love of storytelling across all age groups. In a pupil voice survey 2025, 100% of children said they liked writing lessons and were proud of their writing in books.
The impact of our approach has been recognised by external evaluators. HMI Mary Davies noted in April 2024 that our literacy curriculum enables all pupils, including SEND and disadvantaged learners, to access and enjoy demanding texts and high-quality stimuli. Trust leaders and inspectors have repeatedly observed our children taking great pride in their writing, demonstrating confidence and ambition in their literacy skills.
A clear highlight has been the vocabulary development across the school. Children now draw on language from a range of sources in their writing. One Year 6 pupil, identified as SEND and disadvantaged, recently wrote, "The star was a beacon of hope," recalling vocabulary introduced two years earlier. Similarly, a Year 5 child described "reassuring darkness" in a narrative, showcasing the depth of their understanding.
Our next steps include further developing Oracy and Fluency approaches across the school and expanding our role within the trust. We aim to become a flagship school for Literacy Tree, sharing best practices and developing more whole-school units that can be implemented across the trust.
With a dedicated team, engaged children, and an ever-growing literacy culture, Noremarsh continues to thrive, with Literacy Tree as their trusted partner.
Written by Hilary MacMeekin, Head teacher
