Structured Literacy Approach

What is Structured Literacy?

At Putāruru Primary School, we are proud to implement a Structured Literacy approach to teaching reading and writing. This method ensures every learner receives explicit, systematic instruction, laying a solid foundation for confident, capable readers and writers.

We have adopted the Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA) across our kura. All our teachers have either completed or are currently undergoing training to deliver this evidence-based programme.

Structured Literacy involves:

Explicit Instruction – Clearly teaching skills in a direct manner.
Systematic Progression – Following a carefully planned sequence of lessons.
Cumulative Learning – Building new concepts upon previously mastered ones.
Diagnostic Teaching – Continuously assessing and responding to each child's progress.

Our learners are taught to:

• Understand the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and letters (graphemes).
• Decode (sound out) words confidently.
• Apply spelling patterns and rules.
• Develop vocabulary, comprehension, and writing strategies

The BSLA has been specifically designed for the New Zealand educational context and has demonstrated outstanding results. Research indicates that BSLA is effective across all cultural groups, with Māori and Pasifika children showing accelerated learning in their early literacy skills.

We are already witnessing exciting progress and increased confidence among our students, particularly those who previously faced challenges with traditional literacy methods.

For more detailed information about the Better Start Literacy Approach and its research foundation, you can visit the official BSLA website.

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