Phonics and Literacy Development in the Early Years (Kindergarten – Year 2)
In the early years at West Leeming, students develop strong foundations in phonics, oral language and early reading through the Letters and Sounds program. This systematic sequence teaches children to connect sounds to letters, blend to read, and segment to spell. Teachers use explicit instruction and multisensory activities as students move through the program’s six phases.
Students also participate in Heggerty, a research-based program that builds phonological and phonemic awareness. As they progress, the Bridge to Reading and Bridge to Writing programs further strengthen decoding, fluency and early writing. These evidence-based programs are supported by rich learning experiences aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework, the Western Australian Curriculum and the Kindergarten Guidelines.
Writing – A Connected Instructional Framework
From Year 1 to Year 6, all classes at West Leeming follow the Writing Instructional Framework. This whole-school approach guides students through familiarising, analysing, modelling, sharing, guided practice and independent writing. A whole-school Writing Forms Scope and Sequence ensures consistency and progression across the school.
Grammar and punctuation are taught explicitly and applied in context during writing lessons. Students learn how sentence structure, language choices and punctuation strengthen meaning, and they apply these skills purposefully in their own writing.
Reading – Guided Instruction and Comprehension Development
Daily reading is an essential part of learning at West Leeming. Teachers use Guided Reading to support decoding, fluency and comprehension at each student’s point of need. In the early years, comprehension is strengthened through shared reading, oral language and rich discussion. As students become more fluent, they learn to read accurately, smoothly and with expression to support deeper understanding.
Grammar is reinforced during reading as students encounter authentic examples of language, sentence structures and punctuation. Students are explicitly taught the Super Six comprehension strategies – making connections, predicting, questioning, monitoring, visualising and summarising – to guide understanding before, during and after reading.
Spelling (Years 3-6)
Students in Years 3–6 at West Leeming learn spelling through Word Origins, an evidence-informed program from DSF. This approach builds on early phonics knowledge by teaching morphology, etymology and word structure. Understanding why words are spelled the way they are helps students become accurate, confident spellers with a strong vocabulary foundation.
Speaking and Listening (Kindergarten – Year 6)
Speaking and Listening are key curriculum areas at West Leeming. Students participate in discussions, presentations, collaborative tasks and oral language activities that build confidence, active listening and clear communication. These targeted experiences strengthen understanding across all areas of literacy.
