Ali Lawson is the Director of Education for the Weaver Trust, which brings together six primary schools across Cheshire: Barnton, Grange, Comberbach, Leftwich, Westminster and Halton Lodge Primary School. As Director of Education, Ali has responsibility for sustainable school improvement across the MAT, ensuring each school provides a high-quality education. She has designed an ambitious and sequential curriculum that builds on prior learning and prepares pupils for the next stage in their journey.

All of the Weaver Trust schools use Ready Steady Write, Ready Steady Read Together, Ready Steady Spell and Ready Steady Phonics as part of their literacy curriculum. They are also halfway through their Everybody Write: 2 Year Project to support leadership and teacher expertise. We recently spoke with Ali to hear her reflections on the impact these resources and our partnership have had across the trust.

Weaver Trust has been working closely with Literacy Counts for some time. Could you start by telling us what first drew you to our resources and what you hoped they would achieve across your MAT?

‘The most important thing was the shared educational ethos between our trust and Literacy Counts. We both have exceptionally high expectations for all learners, no matter what barriers they might face. With Literacy Counts, if there is a barrier, it has either already been addressed within their resources, expert consultancy, the Everybody Write Project or they will work with us to create a solution.

What also drew us in was the consistency we knew Literacy Counts could provide us. The Ready Steady Literacy resources provide a consistent methodology, a clear way of thinking about teaching and a clear strategy for how to train teachers. Everything fits together seamlessly.’

Multi-academy trust leaders improving literacy through whole MAT reading, writing, spelling and phonics programmes.

Your schools are now using many of the Ready Steady Literacy resources. From a Director of Education perspective, what has been the most noticeable impact of having a consistent suite of resources across schools?

‘The consistency has been transformational. The biggest impact has been on achievement and raising standards in reading, writing and phonics, ensuring children reach at least age-related expectations.

We have seen improved results without a shadow of doubt. These have made an undeniable difference to outcomes. Literacy Counts responds to research and new guidance quickly, and this is reflected in the resources and training. For example, when the DfE Writing Framework was published, we could trust that it would become fully embedded into the materials if it was not already addressed. That is really reassuring for us as a trust.

At present, five of our schools are above the national average in phonics, and all schools are above the national average in reading and writing. The one school not above average in phonics is the only school not using Ready Steady Phonics. At Barnton, where 40% of pupils have SEND and there are three resource bases, outcomes are above. Thanks to Literacy Counts, our teachers know not just what to teach, but how to teach it consistently every day.’

How has this consistency supported your leaders and teachers in terms of curriculum design, workload and professional development?

‘From the perspective of headteachers and English subject leaders, the resources have been crucial for CPD. Leaders know not only what teachers need to deliver, but how to deliver it. The resources also show how to assess and moderate effectively, which gives leaders real confidence.

For headteachers, the impact is visible. When they see rising standards, they know they have made the right choice with Ready Steady Literacy schemes.’

What feedback have you heard from staff on the ground about using the resources?

‘Teachers really value the ‘touch of a button’ accessibility and the support for SEND and EAL. We are currently focusing on making sure adaptations are not just made for the sake of it, but that staff are thinking carefully about the barriers each child faces and using the resources to help overcome them.’

Weaver Trust schools using Literacy Counts resources to raise standards in reading, writing, spelling and phonics across the MAT.

What impact have you seen on pupil outcomes, confidence and attitudes towards reading and writing since adopting the resources? Are you only seeing the needed data and outcomes in Year 6 after that targeted SATs focus?

‘We are seeing steady progress right through the school, with cohorts becoming more secure year on year. By the time they reach Year 6, children are ready for the curriculum demands and now have the basics in place such as handwriting, spelling, routines and structures. This means they are ready to succeed at the highest level.’

The trust is halfway through the Everybody Write Project. How has this initiative supported your schools so far, and what changes have you noticed in writing standards, teacher collaboration or pupil engagement?

‘Our children now enjoy reading and writing, and more importantly, they will tell you that they enjoy it. The old attitude of ‘we find it tricky’ is no longer the case in our schools, especially those that have used Ready Steady Write for more than a year.

The project has put the spotlight firmly back on writing. It has ensured consistency, even when new teachers join. These new teachers quickly learn the writing ethos and culture through the way we teach, why we teach and how it is done. Teacher feedback has been very positive.’

What do you hope the Everybody Write Project will achieve by the time it concludes?

‘My hope is that every one of our teachers will be a ‘more than competent’ teacher of writing. We want outcomes to continue to improve. In some schools, writing data has not been on par with reading data, but we are confident this project will help to close that gap.’

From a trust-wide viewpoint, what difference has working with Literacy Counts made to your ability to lead on literacy improvement? Has it been successful?

‘It has absolutely been a success story. The principles and ethos within Ready Steady Literacy and the Everybody Write Project matched what we were looking for. The transformation in the pride shown by our teachers and leaders has been wonderful.

It was not an overnight transformation, but now there are newly heightened aspirations for all children across the trust. It is amazing to see.’

Teachers and leaders using Ready Steady Write, Ready Steady Read Together, Ready Steady Spell and Ready Steady Phonics to strengthen literacy across a multi-academy trust.

How has the consultancy and training element supported your leaders and teaching staff?

‘It has provided leaders with a really clear strategic direction. Targets are realistic and achievable, but the training also ensures that everyone moves forward together. It strips things back into manageable chunks that support staff, leadership and pupils while still driving improvement.

The trust leaders can be confident that teachers and TAs will get the support they need, whatever their starting point.’

What do you see as the long-term benefits of using Ready Steady Literacy resources across the trust?

‘For me, the long-term benefit is that everything is embedded. The resources are sustainable, responsive to research and allow us to keep raising standards year on year.’

Final Word

‘You are all brilliant! Without a shadow of doubt, it is worth it. First and foremost, it gives leaders a really clear strategic direction and helps set realistic targets that can be achieved. It takes everyone along on the journey of change.

And beyond this it’s the way it supports all levels – leaders, teachers, TAs and ultimately pupils – that makes it so effective. Anyone not using Ready Steady Literacy resources is missing out.’

Thank you Weaver Trust

A huge thank you to Ali for taking the time to meet with us. We are grateful to her and to all of the Weaver Trust schools for their commitment to improving outcomes.

Transform Literacy Across Your School or Trust

For multi-academy trust (MAT) and school leaders seeking proven ways to raise standards in reading, writing, spelling and phonics, the Ready Steady Literacy suite offers a consistent and research-informed approach that delivers real impact.
Ready Steady Write
Ready Steady Read Together
Ready Steady Spell
Ready Steady Phonics
Our resources and consultancy provide the tools, training and expertise schools need to achieve sustainable improvement.

To explore how Literacy Counts can support your school or trust, book a free discovery call today: Free Literacy Consultation for Primary Schools and MATs.