Intent 

Literacy sits at the heart of our curriculum, with a strong emphasis on disciplinary literacy to ensure all learners develop the language and knowledge needed to thrive across subjects. We prioritise vocabulary-rich teaching, explicitly developing Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary so that children grow as confident communicators and thoughtful learners. Literacy Tree aligns closely with our vision. Its rich, high-quality texts and immersive approach foster a deep love of reading and writing. Crucially, the diversity of authors, characters, themes and settings enables our learners to see themselves reflected in the stories they encounter. This representation is vital in shaping identity and aspiration, ensuring that every learner not only engages as a reader but also sees themselves as a writer.

Implementation

Literacy Tree is embedded from Nursery through to Year 6, providing a coherent and engaging approach to the teaching of English. Each academic year begins with a whole-school text, creating a shared experience that fosters a sense of community and excitement around reading and writing. Sequences of learning are launched through carefully planned discovery points that spark curiosity and awe from the outset. Lessons follow a consistent structure, with rich whole-class teaching rooted in high-quality discussion, explicit teacher modelling, shared writing and scaffolded practice, leading to increasingly independent outcomes. Oracy is central to this process, enabling learners to rehearse ideas, deepen understanding and articulate their thinking. Staff are supported through bespoke professional development informed by our school priorities and strengthened through consultation with our Literacy Tree link consultant, ensuring consistency and high-quality delivery across the school.

Impact

The impact of this approach is evident in both outcomes and attitudes towards learning. In the last academic year, 70 percent of learners achieved the expected standard in writing, closely in line with the national figure of 72 percent, with pupil premium attainment exceeding national at 75 percent. Beyond data, there is a tangible enthusiasm for English across the school, withclassrooms filled with purposeful talk, excitement and anticipation as learners engage deeply with their class texts. Pupil voice reflects this. “I love the books we study in English because they are inspiring and help me feel hopeful. They help me to write more descriptively and I want to be an author.” This sense of inspiration is further reflected in the pride learners take in events such as World Book Day, where many choose to embody characters from texts studied in class. Through our use of Literacy Tree, alongside a strong focus on oracy, we have seen a clear increase in confidence, creativity and engagement, with learners developing both the skills and the self-belief to succeed as writers.

Success story written by Charlotte Nwachukwu, English Lead

Updated in May 2026

Teacher Testimonial

Literacy Tree is a fantastic resource and one we value highly at our school. The carefully curated selection of high-quality texts, alongside well-structured lesson sequences aligned to the National Curriculum, ensures we feel confident that we are delivering meaningful and engaging literacy lessons. In my classroom, I have seen how deeply learners immerse themselves in each text, which leads to rich discussion and thoughtful contributions. This has had a clear impact on their confidence, as well as their motivation to see themselves as writers. I have been particularly impressed by the increasing ambition in their vocabulary choices and their growing understanding of sentence structure. Through Literacy Tree, learners develop a clear sense of purpose in their writing, understanding how different sentence structures can be used for effect and impact.

It has also positively impacted my own practice. I have noticed a real improvement in my subject knowledge, which has been invaluable for my professional development.

Kirsty Cyrus, Year 6 Teacher, Writing Co-Lead