Celebrating Phonics Success with Ready Steady Phonics

At Literacy Counts, we love shining a light on schools using our programmes to make a measurable difference in children’s outcomes. This School Spotlight features Barnton Community Nursery and Primary School in Northwich, Cheshire—a vibrant, inclusive school that has embraced Ready Steady Phonics to transform the teaching of early reading.

Barnton is part of the Weaver Trust, a multi-academy trust we work closely with on project work across reading and writing. Many schools within the Trust use Ready Steady Write, Ready Steady Spell and Ready Steady Phonics to drive improvement and raise attainment in literacy.

With over 480 pupils on roll, Barnton serves a diverse intake, including a significant number of children with additional needs, due in part to their Primary Resource Provision. Many children join the school well below age-related expectations but leave having reached, or exceeded, them. The school’s story is one of ambition, consistency and a clear vision for phonics teaching—and the results speak for themselves.

Validated phonics scheme for UK primary schools supporting early reading and DfE requirements.

Investing in Professional Development

The staff at Barnton highlight the transformative impact of Ready Steady Phonics training. From leadership to teaching assistants, everyone feels confident and competent in delivering a high-quality phonics programme. With a shared understanding of the teaching progression, staff ensure children overlearn key knowledge and apply it independently. The use of consistent pedagogy has helped phonics learning ‘stick’, while modelled sessions, face-to-face CPD and online resources have led to precise and refined teaching.

“Phonics lessons are now refined and ensure they are consistent across year group classes and phases… children are able to feel familiar and confident in Phonics lessons due to the consistency and precision teaching being delivered.”

Synthetic phonics teaching resources for effective early reading instruction in primary classrooms.

Impact on Attainment and Progress

Perhaps the most compelling evidence of impact lies in pupil outcomes. Since introducing Ready Steady Phonics, Barnton has seen strong progress. Children in Reception are on track with ambitious progression, showing notable gains in writing, accurate spelling and reading motivation.

“Children are seeing the relationship between the phonics lessons and how they can apply this knowledge to their reading and writing. Common Exception Words are consistently remembered and read more accurately across Reception & Year 1 than in previous years. In Year 1, this is also being demonstrated by application in their writing."

In Year 1, the shift was especially impressive. In Autumn 1 of 2021, 33% of pupils were on track in phonics. By Spring 2 of 2022, that number had jumped to 85%. Staff credit this leap to the consistency of Quality First Teaching and the targeted support provided by Ready Steady Go (included for free within the phonics membership) sessions, which help keep all children on track.

“Formative assessment in phonics has now come to the forefront of staff’s minds… leading to fluid and supportive groups where staff are pinpointing children’s misconceptions and addressing at the point of learning.”

Parental engagement has also played a role, with families reporting increased interest and enjoyment in reading at home, thanks to the accessible and engaging decodable texts.

Overview of a structured phonics scheme aligned with the National Curriculum and Ofsted guidance.

Leadership and Fidelity

Leadership at Barnton praises the structure and clarity of Ready Steady Phonics. The teaching progression ensures phonics teaching is cumulative, consistent and focused. This strong framework helps leaders maintain fidelity across classrooms and track progress with confidence.

“Ready Steady Phonics is very explicit and highly structured. As a leadership team, this has given us the confidence in knowing that phonics is being taught to a high level in every classroom.”

Supporting the Lowest 20%

The Ready Steady Go element has been instrumental in narrowing attainment gaps. TAs and teachers alike use ongoing formative assessment to identify and address gaps quickly. As a result, fewer children are working below expected standards in phonics—and more are meeting age-related expectations in reading and writing.

Phonics Screening Check preparation guide with tips, strategies and support for Year 1 success.

The Role of Resources

From interactive whiteboard materials and clear flashcards to memorable handwriting patter and decodable readers, the Ready Steady Phonics resources are helping reduce cognitive load and enhance learning.

“Children can often be heard using this patter in their independent learning… The clarity of the teaching resources removes cognitive load and stimuli that would otherwise result in distractions.”

Decodable texts are a firm favourite, with their rich variety of rhyming, narrative and non-fiction content. The multiple reading opportunities they provide build confidence, fluency and enjoyment.

Consistent Phonics Success

Barnton’s results in the Phonics Screening Check demonstrate the lasting impact of the programme: 2021: 81% 2022: 87% 2023: 90% 2024: 92%
This year-on-year improvement is a testament to the school’s commitment to high-quality phonics teaching and their effective use of Ready Steady Phonics.

Best phonics scheme in the UK for improving reading outcomes and supporting consistent teaching.

Why Barnton Recommends Ready Steady Phonics

“We absolutely would recommend Ready Steady Phonics to other schools. The scheme is clearly entrenched in pedagogical research and ensures outcomes for all children at all levels.”

Ready Steady Phonics is not just a scheme, but a whole-school approach that aligns phonics with reading, writing, spelling and the wider curriculum. Barnton's experience shows that, with the right training, resources and leadership, it is possible to close the gap, raise standards and instil a love of reading in every child.