How Ready Steady Write and Ready Steady Read Together Link and Support National Year of Reading Goals

A Joined-Up Approach to Literacy for the National Year of Reading

The National Literacy Trust’s National Year of Reading campaign invites schools and trusts to think beyond individual initiatives and consider how reading and writing connect in pupils’ daily learning. When these disciplines are aligned, learning becomes more coherent, more purposeful and easier for teachers to deliver well.

For MAT CEOs and trust improvement partners, March is a timely moment to take stock of curriculum alignment. With statutory assessments approaching and planning cycles for September gathering pace, leaders are increasingly looking for resources that work together to support clear progression, consistent pedagogy and improved outcomes for all children.

This is where Ready Steady Write and Ready Steady Read Together complement one another with precision, supporting vulnerable learners while raising attainment across schools. 

Ready Steady Read Together introduces pupils to a rich range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. These texts do more than build comprehension. They become the foundation for meaningful writing opportunities within Ready Steady Write.

Shared reading strengthens vocabulary, syntax and understanding of genre. This is especially important for vulnerable groups, including SEND, EAL and pupils with limited language exposure, as repeated encounters with carefully chosen texts build background knowledge and confidence. When pupils then write within Ready Steady Write units, they are drawing on secure language and ideas, which leads to stronger writing outcomes.

Literacy Counts’ Head of Consultancy, Claire Belisari, says:

“The Reading into Writing model places shared reading at the centre of the writing curriculum, ensuring that pupils write from a position of deep familiarity with language, structure and intent. Through carefully chosen high-quality texts, shared reading exposes pupils to rich vocabulary, varied syntax and authentic examples of genre in action.

As teachers share ambitious language, unpack authorial choices and rehearse key phrases aloud, pupils internalise patterns of expression that later surface in their own writing. This collective exploration strengthens comprehension while simultaneously building a linguistic toolkit pupils can draw upon independently.

Over time, repeated immersion in diverse texts develops genre awareness, enabling pupils to recognise conventions, adapt tone and make purposeful language choices. For Multi Academy Trusts, this model offers a coherent, evidence-informed approach that aligns reading and writing development across schools, improving consistency and outcomes.”

Ready Steady Read Together is already helping hundreds of schools raise reading standards and build confident, motivated readers. Discover why so many teachers are choosing it as their shared reading solution today.