Teaching reading beyond phonics: introducing our new Reading Steps

If we want every child to succeed, we must prioritise reading. Reading unlocks the wider curriculum and expands pupils’ understanding of themselves and the world. More reading leads to more learning; more learning makes reading more productive and enjoyable. This snowball effect is a powerful driver of students’ progress.

But not every child leaves school as a confident and capable reader. Despite our best efforts, many children do not reach the expected standard in reading by the end of Key Stage 2. This includes:

• 1.
  1 in 4 of all students across the UK
• 2.
  1 in 3 students eligible for free school meals
• 3.
  2 in 3 students with an identified SEND.

While some pupils need significant support to secure decoding and word recognition, improving reading outcomes is not only about phonics. It is also about strengthening teacher professional development (PD) so that teachers are equipped to develop fluency and comprehension across the classroom.

High-quality CPD for teachers is essential if we want reading improvement to be consistent and sustainable.

To address this need, we have worked with reading expert Chris Such to develop our Reading Steps - a specialist, evidence-informed curriculum designed to support PD in schools.

The Reading Steps translate the science of reading into clear, actionable guidance that teachers can apply immediately. They focus on what most strongly supports reading comprehension in practice, not simply on preparing pupils for assessment questions.

Chris’ work challenges a common misconception: that teaching reading means practising the types of questions found in reading tests. While pupils may benefit from some familiarity with assessment formats, an overemphasis on question types can reduce time spent building fluency, knowledge of written language and meaningful engagement with texts.

The Reading Steps instead prioritise the foundations that research shows matter most.

The Reading Steps are built around three core goals that underpin effective reading instruction.

Supporting pupils to read with increasing automaticity and expression, enabling them to access meaning with confidence.

Providing pupils with regular opportunities to engage with a breadth and variety of meaningful texts, strengthening their knowledge of written language and the worlds texts describe.

Facilitating rich discussion and thoughtful exploration of texts so pupils develop comprehension, critical thinking and a stronger identity as readers.

Together, these goals offer a coherent, evidence-informed approach to teaching reading beyond phonics.

Our Reading Steps are not simply a set of classroom resources. They are designed as structured teacher professional development that helps schools embed effective reading practice.

The curriculum draws on the best available evidence about how pupils learn to read, alongside Chris Such’s extensive work with teachers across the country.

Each goal is divided into manageable, clearly defined steps. This makes evidence-informed teaching accessible and achievable for busy teachers.

Every step is illustrated through video examples of high-quality classroom practice, helping teachers build strong mental models of effective instruction.

Each goal is accompanied by an Insight Module written by Chris, deepening teachers’ understanding of the research and how it applies to real classrooms.

In this way, the Reading Steps contribute meaningfully to professional development in schools, helping teachers move from theory to consistent practice.

To celebrate the launch of our Reading Steps, we are hosting a live webinar exploring the principles behind effective reading instruction.

Join Chris Such and Abigail Williams as they discuss:

• 1.
  The key principles underpinning reading comprehension.
• 2.
  What effective reading instruction looks like in day-to-day practice.
• 3.
  How the Reading Steps can support schools to strengthen reading outcomes.

Whether you are already using Steplab or exploring evidence-informed PD for your school, this session will provide practical guidance you can apply immediately.

To explore the thinking behind the Reading Steps in greater depth, see Chris Such’s book Primary Reading Simplified: A Practical Guide to Classroom Teaching and Whole School Implementation.