On Wednesday 2nd July, Banks Road Primary School in Garston, Liverpool, opened its doors to school and trust leaders from across the country — and even internationally — for a Literacy Counts Impact Showcase. The event offered a unique opportunity to see Ready Steady Literacy resources in action and to hear first-hand from the leadership, staff and pupils of a school deeply committed to raising outcomes in reading, writing and spelling.

Banks Road staff demonstrate their whole-school approach to teaching writing, reading and spelling using Literacy Counts’ Ready Steady resources, in line with the DfE Writing Framework’s emphasis on curriculum coherence and high expectations.

Leadership at the Heart of Change

The afternoon began with a powerful message from J. Wilson, Headteacher at Banks Road, who spoke freely about the context and journey of the school. He reflected on how Literacy Counts’ resources and expert consultancy has played a pivotal role in their whole-school development, particularly in driving improvements in pupil outcomes in reading, writing and spelling. With Ready Steady Write, Ready Steady Read Together and Ready Steady Spell fully embedded, the school is proudly recognised as a Literacy Counts Flagship setting — a testament to its whole-school approach, consistent practice and unwavering ambition for every child.

J. Savage, Assistant Headteacher, shared:

“Literacy Counts has transformed the teaching of English at every level in our school (from teaching assistant, teachers to leadership). We cannot praise them enough.”

A Culture of Consistency and Commitment

Banks Road’s dedication to a shared literacy vision is evident throughout the school. Every teacher, teaching assistant and leader knows exactly what it means to be a Banks Road reader, writer and speller. Delegates had the opportunity to walk through classrooms to see the Ready Steady Write sequence in action. With classes in the final stage of their units, children were confidently applying Sentence Accuracy, Writer’s Knowledge and ambitiously learnt vocabulary in their Final Writing Outcome.

Delegates observed clear adaptations that enabled all pupils to access learning and make accelerated progress. Working walls provided consistent, high-quality scaffolds, tailored to the Immerse, Analyse, Plan, Write sequence. These visuals supported children’s oracy and independence, reflecting Ready Steady Write’s inclusive ethos.

A Year 4 pupil demonstrates Sentence Accuracy in their Final Writing Outcome, applying grammar and punctuation knowledge taught through the Ready Steady Write programme, supporting technical fluency and DfE curriculum expectations.

Pupil Voice That Speaks Volumes

One of the most memorable moments came when a group of pupils met with school leaders in the hall, proudly discussing their work. They explained what each stage of the Ready Steady Write sequence means to them and demonstrated how Daily Sentence Accuracy and Writer’s Knowledge help them reflect on and improve their writing. Delegates were struck by the depth of understanding, ownership and pride shown by the children — thanks to the ambitious and technical aspects of Ready Steady Write.

From EYFS to Year 6: A Whole-School Showcase

A heartwarming highlight of the afternoon was the EYFS performance of the Storm Whale Story Song. The children’s confident singing and vocabulary recall beautifully illustrated the joy of early writing. As S. Kesedzic, EYFS Lead, shared:

“The scheme has been so much fun to teach. I can see so much improvement in the children’s confidence, new vocabulary and their enjoyment of literacy lessons… I think Ready Steady Write really lends itself to an inclusive classroom.”

This joyful moment captures exactly what the new Writing Framework (2025) is all about. The Writing Framework highlights the importance of:

Oral composition through song and rhyme to foster a love of language

Building communication and language skills as the foundation for future writing

Making a strong start in the early years to give children the best chance of success

Laying the groundwork for transcription and composition

Keeping things simple and doing them well

Our EYFS Story Songs spark a love of language through rhythm, repetition and melody – building confident young writers from the very start. And best of all, they make learning fun, engaging and for everyone – full of smiles and success.

EYFS children at Banks Road Primary School performing a Story Song as part of the Ready Steady Write teaching sequence, showcasing oral composition and rhythm-based language learning in line with the DfE Writing Framework 2025.

A Shared Vision, Seen in Action

Attendees included schools from across the Northwest and beyond — with some travelling just ten minutes from their setting and others joining us from Cardiff and international schools in Bahrain. Whether already using one of our Ready Steady Literacy resources or simply exploring ways to improve their current literacy offer, each delegate left with a deeper understanding of the impact Ready Steady Literacy brings and the role strong leadership plays in implementing a consistent approach to reading, writing and spelling.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the entire team at Banks Road Primary School. Every member of staff is a passionate advocate for Ready Steady Literacy and their dedication to improving outcomes was clear at every stage of the day. It is a privilege to see our resources brought to life so successfully — and to witness the impact they are having on children’s lives.

Explore the Ready Steady Literacy resources used by Banks Road:

Ready Steady Write

Ready Steady Read Together

Ready Steady Spell

Banks Road Primary School’s working wall displays the full writing sequence: Immerse, Analyse, Plan and Write — supporting writing independence, vocabulary and transcription as recommended in the 2025 DfE Writing Framework.

Couldn’t attend this event but want to know more?

We are currently planning new Impact Showcases across the UK for the upcoming academic year. If you would like to be informed when dates are confirmed, please get in touch.

📞 Book a free 1:1 call with one of our expert consultants:

https://www.literacycounts.co.uk/free-literacy-consultation-primary-schools-mats

📩 Request access to sample materials, pricing and training details here:

https://www.literacycounts.co.uk/contact

Looking for a programme to teach writing in your school?

Literacy Counts is the leading solution for schools and MATs aiming to improve reading, writing and spelling outcomes. Our award-winning Ready Steady Literacy resources support a consistent, whole-school approach to English. Whether you are looking for a writing scheme, spelling resource or shared reading programme, our expert consultancy and CPD projects ensure high standards and measurable progress for every pupil.