At Mentone Park Primary School, our English program from Foundation to Year 6 is informed by the science of learning and guided by evidence-based practices. We deliver systematic and direct explicit instruction that ensures all students build strong foundational skills and develop into confident, capable and literate learners. Our approach is designed to improve student learning outcomes across all year levels, with a consistent and professional commitment to high-quality teaching. Under the Victorian Curriculum, the three strands of English are reading, writing and speaking and listening. 

Reading: 

Our reading approach from Foundation to Year 6 is carefully designed to encompass all six essential components of reading, ensuring every student develops the skills they need to become successful, lifelong learners. The six components of reading that underpin our literacy instruction are: 

• Phonemic Awareness 

• Phonics 

• Fluency 

• Vocabulary 

• Comprehension 

• Oral Language 

In Foundation to Year 2, we are proud to implement InitiaLit (developed by MultiLit) as our core English program for all students. InitiaLit is an evidence-based approach to early literacy instruction, which integrates systematic, explicit teaching of phonics, reading, spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension. Aligned with the Victorian Curriculum, InitaLit supports all students in building strong foundational reading skills while also identifying and addressing the needs of those requiring additional support. By using InitiaLit, we ensure a consistent, structured curriculum that reflects the latest research in how children learn to read and write, setting our students up for long term academic success and a lifelong love of reading. InitaLit integrates whole-class instruction while also providing small group and one-to-one support for those requiring additional help. This multi-tiered approach ensures that diverse learning needs are met.  

In Years 3 and 4, we use SpellEx (developed by MultiLit) which is a systematic, structured and evidence-based reading and spelling program tailored to meet the needs of all our learners. It integrates key components of reading, such as phonics, morphology, vocabulary, and comprehension into engaging lessons that reinforce spelling patterns and reading strategies. Students also participate in novel studies that build strong reading, writing and thinking skills through high quality literature. Each unit guides students through a carefully chosen novel, combining vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension in engaging evidence-based lessons. 

In Years 5 and 6, we use PhOrMes (developed by Shane Pearson) which is an evidence informed program that utilises the science of reading and learning. PhOrMes is an acronym for: 

• Phonology through phonics 

• Orthography through spelling 

• Morphology and Etymology 

• Semantics and vocabulary 

Students focus on target graphemes, spelling rules, morphology,  word origins and build a deeper understanding of how words work.  Students also participate in novel studies that build strong reading, writing and thinking skills through high quality literature. Each unit guides students through a carefully chosen novel, combining vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension in engaging evidence-based lessons.  

Our reading intervention programs are MiniLit (F-2) and MacqLit (3-4), part of the MultiLit suite of programs.  Both these programs align with the scope and sequence of our core InitiaLit program. Sessions are additional to the explicit Literacy instruction in the classroom. MiniLIt and MacqLit programs provide explicit and systematic support with targeted lessons to support the development of reading. Lessons teach phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Regular assessment ensures that the identified students work on their goals in small groups with our specialist team. 

Writing: 

At Mentone Park Primary School, writing is taught through a consistent, school-wide approach that is both systematic and explicit. Students receive direct instruction in the fundamentals of writing including handwriting, sentence construction/structure and paragraphing. They are regularly exposed to modelled examples and teachers provide ongoing, targeted feedback to support each student’s progress. Our writing program ensures students develop the foundational skills to write with clarity, purpose and confidence across a range of genres including narrative, persuasive, procedural, information reports and poetry. Through this structured and supportive approach, we equip all students with the tools they need to become effective and expressive writers.  

Speaking and Listening: 

At Mentone Park Primary School, we place a strong emphasis on developing students’ speaking and listening skills. These essential skills are explicitly taught and embedded across all areas of learning. Students are provided with regular opportunities to express ideas clearly, listen actively and engage in meaningful conversations and discussions. From structured oral presentations to collaborative group work, we support students in building confidence, clarity and respectful communication.