Purpose

This professional learning series builds on the 'Leading phonics improvement’ webinar series, offering a fresh lens focused on reflection, consolidation and implementation insights. Engage with illustrations of practice and hear from expert panel.

This six-part professional learning is aligned to the NSW English K-10 syllabus and will strengthen leader and teacher capability to drive high-impact explicit teaching practices.

Who should participate?

• Assistant Principals, Curriculum and Instruction
• School leaders of literacy Kindergarten to Year 2
• Teachers Kindergarten to Year 2

We encourage leaders and teachers to participate in sessions together either as a school team or across a principal network.

Mode of delivery

Online drop-in sessions (recordings of the live sessions) and 6 pre-requisite-recorded sessions.

Note:

The pre-requisite recordings are from the 'Leading phonics improvement series' delivered in Term 4 2024 and Term 1 2025.

Content

Session 1 – Phonics focus: Improvement and impact

Recorded Thursday 14 August 2025

This drop in session includes a structured review of key concepts from 'Phonics focus: Improvement and impact'. The session leverages the evidence base for high impact phonics instruction, strengthening capabilities of leaders to drive explicit teaching in phonics.

Hear from an AP, C&I sharing insights from their engagement with the professional learning. An expert panel will discuss and offer evidence-based guidance on high-impact phonics instruction and strategies for strengthening leadership capability in the explicit teaching of phonics.

Session 2 – Phonics unveiled: Data for decision-making

Recorded Thursday 28 August 2025

This drop in session examines key insights from 'Phonics unveiled: Data for decision-making', focusing on analysing Year 1 Phonics Screening Check data to inform targeted planning for students entering Year 2 who require support.

Hear from an AP, C&I, who will share their school’s approach to data analysis, followed by an expert panel discussion

Session 3 – Phonics showcase – part 1

Recorded Thursday 11 September 2025

This drop in session reviews 'Phonics showcase (part 1)' with a focus on examining common misconceptions about teaching reading. Engage with and reflect on the misconceptions and the difference between the Science of Reading vs Structured Literacy.

Session 4 – Phonics showcase – part 2

Recorded Wednesday 22 October 2025

This drop in session unpacks key insights from 'Phonics showcase – part 2, focusing on how cognitive science can enhance phonics instruction and the use of high-impact teaching strategies. Reflect on how cognitive load is managed in the classroom and consider strategies to strengthen your approach in supporting teachers.

Session 5 – Phonics success: The art and science of implementation

Recorded Wednesday 5 November 2025

This drop in session highlights content from 'Phonics success: The art and science of implementation', which explores how implementation science bridges research and practice to support effective phonics instruction.

Features insights from an AP, C&I, discussing how they apply implementation science and use the guiding implementation resource to drive exemplary teaching practice in their school context. Explores the vital role of implementation science bridging research and practice through the lens of phonics instruction.

Session 6 – Phonics: Piecing it all together

Recorded Wednesday 19 November 2025

This drop in session reviews 'Phonics: Piecing it all together,' which summarises the ‘Learn, Do, Reflect’ professional learning cycle as a framework for creating contextualised pathways for leading phonics improvement.

Hear from an AP, C&I who has applied the co-teaching cycle in their context and learn how to use universal resources to implement exemplary phonics instruction.

Contacts

If you have any questions, contact literacy.numeracy@det.nsw.edu.au