Intent:

At the School of Research Science (SRS), we believe that reading and writing lies at the heart of all great learning. We are committed to enriching our pupils with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become fluent readers and purposeful writers, equipping our children to succeed both within and beyond school.  
 
However, as a culturally and linguistically diverse community, SRS identified that our previous approach to teaching literacy was not meeting the needs of all learners. Before introducing the Literacy Tree: 
•    Writing lacked purpose;
•    Texts used were not engaging our pupils; and
•    Outcomes did not reflect our pupils’ true potential.  
Our mission was clear: we needed to inspire a passion for literacy, fostering a genuine love of reading and writing. We needed to transform pupils from reluctant writers and readers into confident learners who were enthusiastic, engaged, and eager to participate in lessons. 
 
The Literacy Tree’s book-based curriculum, which places rich, meaningful texts at the heart of their teaching and learning sequences, aligned perfectly with our vision. Its immersive experiences, clear progression, and high-quality texts immediately captured pupils’ interest and gave us the tools needed to transform our literacy provision. 
 
Implementation: 
 
SRS is a 15-form entry primary school with over 4,000 pupils so it was essential that the launch of The Literacy Tree was both memorable and inclusive. To achieve this, the framework was introduced through a whole-school text, Flooded! creating a shared learning experience for pupils from FS to Year 6. 
 
This collective approach sparked creativity and excitement across the school. Practical hook lessons, including the creation of ‘SRS floods’ throughout the building, immersed pupils in the text and encouraged rich discussions across the entire school community. Pupils across year groups shared their writing outcomes, marking a significant shift in attitudes towards literacy and creating a visible “buzz for writing” throughout the school. 
 
Teachers were integral to the successful launch and sustained implementation of the framework. Through the Literacy Tree platform, staff have attended online training sessions, received expert consultancy and collaborated with flagship schools creating practical, hands-on professional development for our teacher. As a result, staff confidence has increased significantly, and teachers are highly motivated to deliver ambitious, engaging literacy lessons. 

Impact: 
 
The impact of The Literacy Tree at SRS has been transformative. Pupils who were previously disengaged from writing are now enthusiastic, confident and motivated writers. Writing lessons are purposeful and eagerly anticipated, with pupils taking pride in their work and, for the first time, are seeing themselves as authors. 
 
Writing outcomes have improved markedly in a short period of time. Pupils demonstrate clear progression in vocabulary, structure, cohesion and accuracy and approach writing tasks with increased independence and resilience. As a result, gaps between pupils with different starting points are narrowing. 
 
The emphasis on audience and purpose has made writing meaningful and pupils understand that their work has value beyond the classroom. Engagement with reading has also increased significantly, with pupils expressing genuine enjoyment of the texts studied and a growing eagerness to read more. 
 

Teacher testimonials:
 
Through the Literacy Tree, we have been able to select high-quality texts to inspire our children’s thoughts, imagination and learning, allowing them to immerse themselves within the story and beyond. The “Writing Roots” have helped us to develop our children’s writing further by providing a rich variety of vocabulary and classroom tools to develop oracy, alongside a consistent, familiar approach to learning. All of this has made our children more confident and motivated to write every day.

Bethan Cahill- Class Teacher 

The Literacy Tree has made English more engaging and purposeful. Pupils get really immersed in rich texts and language, and the focus on talk and oracy has really boosted their confidence, especially for our EAL learners, leading to more confident and ambitious writing.

Gráinne Mullins - Lead Practitioner 

As a Deputy Headteacher I have seen first hand how The Literacy Tree has transformed the teaching of writing in our school. Teachers are confident and enthusiastic, shared writing is purposeful and impactful, and pupils are highly engaged in their learning. The improvement in writing outcomes across all year groups has been exceptional, resulting in accelerated progress for pupils.

Lindsey Kidd- Deputy Headteacher 

Literacy tree is one of the best things that has happened at SRS. The book-based approach has transformed how my class engage with reading, writing and storytelling. It has helped them become passionate and confident writers. Each learning journey builds purposefully creating immersive experiences where children truly transport themselves into the story. The carefully selected texts are well aligned with wider national curriculum topics, strengthening learning across the curriculum. 

The scheme is easy to use and flexible. It allows us teachers to add our own flair while benefiting from clear structure and high-quality support. The online resources are simple to navigate and highly effective. Th  varied lesson styles keep children engaged and allows them to write with purpose. It allows all children to have a go and write! The scheme is also highly effective in developing oracy skills. It allows children to really build on their communication and presentation skills through the learning journey.

Shajeda Hussain - Class teacher 

The literacy tree has had an incredible impact on the students of SRS. With a large number of EAL students, the literacy tree has provided a structured approach to support students in their progression. Engaging texts, stimulating hooks and diverse genres ensure that students are always interested and curious. Opportunities to explore new vocabulary and participate in discussion have been a massive benefit to our student demographic in SRS. Teachers are supported with planning documents and guidance for each lesson.

Aedin Bloom- Class teacher