Staff Development

InitiaLit ~ Years K-2

Building Strong Readers from Day One

At Manly Vale Public School, developing confident, capable readers is a key focus of our school’s strategic direction. Our staff engage in ongoing professional learning in evidence-based reading practices to ensure we are delivering high-quality instruction and strong outcomes for every student.

As part of this work, we have introduced InitiaLit across all Kindergarten to Year 2 classrooms. InitiaLit is a structured, evidence-based reading program that provides explicit daily instruction in phonics, spelling, vocabulary, reading fluency and comprehension.

Lessons are carefully sequenced to build knowledge step-by-step, supporting students to develop confidence and success in reading from the very beginning. This whole-class approach builds on the success we have already seen through our targeted intervention programs, MiniLit and MacqLit, which many families may already be familiar with.

By strengthening reading instruction across every K–2 classroom, we aim to ensure all students are supported, challenged and equipped with the strong literacy foundations needed for lifelong learning.

We are incredibly proud of the growth we are already seeing in our young readers and look forward to continuing this exciting journey with our students and families.

2026 Term 2 ~ Staff Development Day: Supporting Every Learner to Thrive

At the beginning of the term, our staff came together for a Staff Development Day focused on neurodiversity and inclusive classroom practices. This professional learning provided an opportunity for teachers, SLSOs and administration staff to strengthen their understanding of how to best support the diverse learning needs of students across our school.

Staff explored practical, evidence-informed strategies that support attention, engagement and regulation in the classroom, including the use of clear routines, visual supports, movement breaks and explicit instruction. The day also deepened staff understanding of how to support students with specific learning needs such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia, ensuring appropriate adjustments continue to be embedded across classrooms.

At MVPS, we recognise that every child learns differently. This learning reinforced our ongoing commitment to creating inclusive, supportive and engaging learning environments where all students feel known, valued and capable of success.

We would like to sincerely thank our School Wellbeing Team, led by Karen Lucey, for their dedication in planning and delivering such a meaningful and affirming day for our staff.