Literacy and Numeracy

At Manly Vale Public School, we believe every child deserves to feel confident, capable and excited about their learning. Literacy and numeracy are at the heart of this, and we take great care in building strong foundations that set students up for success across all areas of school and life.

Literacy

Our approach to literacy is grounded in connection, clarity and joy. In the early years, children learn to read and write through structured, evidence-based instruction that is warm, supportive and tailored to their needs. As they grow, their literacy learning expands into rich experiences with texts, meaningful discussions, creative expression and opportunities to deepen their understanding of the world around them. We want students not only to develop strong skills but to see themselves as readers, writers and communicators who have something important to say.

Numeracy

Numeracy at Manly Vale Public School is all about helping students make sense of maths, not just as numbers on a page, but as a way of thinking. Through clear modelling, hands-on learning and intentional practice, students build confidence in key concepts while learning to reason, question, explain and problem-solve. Our teachers create opportunities for students to explore mathematics in playful, real-world contexts where curiosity and creativity are encouraged and celebrated.

Across both literacy and numeracy, our teaching is thoughtful, explicit and responsive. We use data to understand where students are, and we scaffold learning so every child feels supported and challenged at the right level. Most importantly, we want every learner to feel proud of their progress and empowered to take the next step with confidence.

Our Reading Focus

This year, Manly Vale Public School has placed a strong spotlight on reading, ensuring every child builds the foundational skills, confidence and joy they need to become successful lifelong readers. Across the school, teachers have worked together using evidence-based practices from the Big Six of Reading, including phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and oral language, to create consistent, high-quality reading experiences in every classroom.

Students have engaged in daily modelled, shared and independent reading, explicit phonics and decoding lessons, fluency practice, rich comprehension discussions, and targeted small-group instruction based on their needs. Our whole-school assessments, including ORF, MAZE and fluency checks, have helped us track growth closely and tailor support for every learner.

Through engaging texts, structured routines and warm, knowledgeable teachers guiding them, students have strengthened not only their skills but also their confidence and enjoyment. Whether celebrating milestones, building stamina, learning new vocabulary or diving into high-quality literature, reading has become a joyful and connected part of school life at Manly Vale Public School and is setting students up for success across all areas of learning.

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