English at Settlers Primary School
At Settlers Primary School, our English curriculum is shaped by the Western Australian Curriculum and its three interrelated strands: Language, Literature, and Literacy. Teaching and learning programs are designed to integrate these strands in a balanced way, with a strong focus on developing student knowledge, understanding and skills across Listening, Reading, Viewing, Speaking, Writing and Creating.
From the early years through to Year 6, we implement evidence-based, 21st-century programs that support students to become confident communicators and capable, critical thinkers. By the time students leave Year 6, they are well-prepared for the demands of secondary school, with highly developed skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
We use a suite of carefully selected programs across the school to meet the needs of all learners:
- Letters and Sounds, Heggerty, and Sounds Write are used in Early Childhood to build strong phonemic awareness and decoding skills.
- Spelling Mastery is implemented from Year 3 to explicitly teach spelling patterns and strategies.
- Talk for Writing is used across the school to model quality writing, support planning and structure, and develop students’ own authorial voice.
- All classrooms include explicit teaching, hands-on learning, and opportunities for oral language development, particularly in Early Childhood, where we also prioritise dramatic play stations to build vocabulary and listening skills.
To support students who need targeted assistance in English, we offer small-group intervention programs:
- MiniLit supports students in the early years who require additional help with foundational literacy skills.
- MacqLit is used with older students to build reading accuracy, fluency and comprehension.
Our Library, led by our passionate librarian, Mrs Belinda Williams, is a vibrant and well-resourced learning space. Students are encouraged to provide feedback and request new titles, helping us to maintain a collection that reflects their interests and promotes a lifelong love of reading. In addition to structured reading programs and guided reading, students regularly borrow from the library to support independent reading at home and school.
The Power of Daily Reviews at Settlers
At Settlers, we know that strong learning habits are the foundation of student success. One key strategy we’ve embedded across our classrooms is Daily Review—a high-impact practice that supports long-term retention and deep understanding of key concepts.
Backed by cognitive science and brought to life through our professional learning with Teach Well, Daily Reviews are short, focused sessions at the beginning of lessons that revisit and consolidate prior learning. This regular retrieval practice helps students strengthen their memory, make connections across topics, and grow in confidence.
All our staff have received targeted training to ensure these reviews are purposeful, inclusive, and engaging. Whether it’s rehearsing key vocabulary in Year 1, revisiting multiplication strategies in Year 4, or unpacking persuasive devices in Year 6, our Daily Reviews are designed to maximise every learning moment.
It’s not just about remembering—it’s about thinking hard, connecting knowledge, and building momentum. And at Settlers, that’s how we set our students up to thrive.