Winning a BETT Award is never just about a trophy. It is about validation that the work matters. Validation that the thinking behind it is sound. And, most importantly, validation that it makes a real difference to children and teachers in classrooms every day.

As a research backed organisation specialising in primary writing and primary reading instruction, Literacy Counts designs English curriculum resources that focus on long-term impact on pupils’ writing and reading outcomes. At BETT 2026, our flagship programme, Ready Steady Write, was recognised with one of the highest honours in education.

The judges described Ready Steady Write as demonstrating ‘a consistent approach to reading, interpreting and planning into writing’ and praised the way it provides ‘everything educators need to teach the vital writing skills that underpin later success’. We are incredibly proud of this feedback, not only because Ready Steady Write is a multi-award winning English curriculum resource, but because it reflects the values that sit at the heart of Literacy Counts.

This blog is not just a celebration of a multi award winning moment. It is an opportunity to reflect on what this recognition reveals about high quality writing support, why the BETT Education Show matters and what schools and MATs should look for when choosing a writing framework that genuinely delivers impact.

BETT 2026 judges praise Ready Steady Write as an award-winning primary writing programme for educators

Why the BETT Education Show matters to schools and MATs

The BETT Education Show is the world’s leading event for education technology and resources. Each year, it brings together teachers, school leaders, MAT leaders, researchers and innovators from across the globe. The BETT Awards sit at the centre of this event and are widely regarded as one of the most rigorous and respected accolades in education.

Judging focuses on far more than presentation or popularity. Resources are scrutinised for their pedagogical integrity, their evidence base and their practical application in real classrooms. Impact matters. Sustainability matters. Alignment with classroom realities matters.

To win a BETT Award is to demonstrate that a resource stands up to this level of professional and academic scrutiny. For schools and MATs seeking a proven MAT solution, a BETT award provides confidence that a programme is not just well intentioned, but genuinely effective.

BETT Awards 2026 ceremony celebrating award-winning education resources and primary literacy innovation

What the BETT win tells us about high quality writing support

Writing is complex. It draws on language, reading, thinking, imagination and craft. High quality writing support cannot rely on isolated lessons, worksheets or surface features. It requires a coherent, research informed writing framework that supports teachers to build knowledge, skills and confidence over time.

The judges’ feedback highlighted consistency, sequencing and completeness. These are not accidental features. They reflect deliberate design choices grounded in decades of research and classroom experience.

This understanding closely aligns with the Department for Education’s The Writing Framework (July 2025), which sets out a clear, evidence-based vision for writing instruction in primary schools. The framework emphasises that successful writing depends on the integration of transcription and composition, with handwriting, spelling, sentence construction and text structure taught explicitly and systematically. It highlights the central role of spoken language in supporting writing development, the importance of teaching grammar and punctuation in meaningful contexts and the need for carefully sequenced instruction that manages cognitive load while maintaining ambition. Crucially, it positions writing as a whole-school priority, requiring coherent progression from Reception through Key Stage 2 and leadership that values professional expertise alongside research informed practice. This national guidance reinforces what our BETT recognition affirms: high quality writing support is built on clarity, coherence and deep understanding of how children learn to write.

High quality writing support shares several defining characteristics:

It is research backed, drawing on a wide range of evidence.
It recognises the deep interrelationship between reading, talk and writing.
It makes the writing process explicit, visible and teachable.
It supports teachers with clarity and structure, without reducing writing to formula.
It motivates children by giving them meaningful reasons to write and high quality models to learn from.

Ready Steady Write was designed with all of these principles in mind.

Department for Education Writing Framework 2025 linked to BETT Award-winning Ready Steady Write approach

Why this matters when choosing a writing resource for schools and MATs

For schools and MATs, choosing an English curriculum resource is a significant decision. Leaders need confidence that a programme aligns with national guidance, reflects current research and supports teachers at different stages of their professional journey. They also need assurance that it will deliver impact consistently, not just in individual classrooms, but across schools and trusts.

Ready Steady Write is designed as a MAT solution. Its consistent writing framework ensures curriculum coherence across year groups and schools, while its flexibility allows teachers to respond to the needs of their pupils. The BETT 2026 award confirms that this balance of structure and professional trust is not only possible, but powerful.

Looking Ahead

We are incredibly proud that Ready Steady Write has been recognised at BETT 2026. But this award is not an endpoint. It reinforces our commitment to remain research informed, to continue refining our resources and to keep listening to the teachers and schools we work with.

High quality writing support is never static. As research evolves and classrooms change, so must our thinking. This multi award winning recognition tells us that when evidence, pedagogy and classroom reality come together, the impact on children’s writing can be profound.

And that, ultimately, is what matters most.