Purpose

Leading phonics improvement professional learning provides targeted professional learning to support leaders and teachers to strengthen phonics instruction. Aligning with the NSW English K–10 syllabus, the series builds capability to lead and implement high-impact explicit teaching practices.

This professional learning includes recordings from the:

• Leading phonics improvement series (6 webinars, recorded 2024/2025)
• Leading phonics professional learning pathway PL ‘drop-in sessions’ (6 sessions, recorded 2025). These sessions expand on the concepts of each webinar, offer additional learning focused on reflection, consolidation and implementation and include illustrations of practice and insights to support application in school contexts.

Who should participate?

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

Mode of delivery

Online

Content

Phonics focus: Improvement and impact

Webinar: This leadership webinar leverages the evidence base for high impact phonics instruction, strengthening capabilities of leaders to drive explicit teaching in phonics (recorded November 2024).

Drop in session: Includes a structured review of key concepts from the webinar and leverages the evidence base for high impact phonics instruction, strengthening capabilities of leaders to drive explicit teaching in phonics. During the session, an AP, C&I shares insights from their engagement with the professional learning. An expert panel discusses and offers evidence-based guidance on high-impact phonics instruction and strategies for strengthening leadership capability in the explicit teaching of phonics (recorded August 2025).

Phonics unveiled: Data for decision-making

Webinar: In-depth analysis of Year 1 Phonics Screening Check data, to inform decision making for students entering Year 2 who require support (recorded November 2024).

Drop in session: focuses on analysing Year 1 Phonics Screening Check data to inform targeted planning for students entering Year 2 who require support. Features an AP, C&I sharing their school’s approach to data analysis, followed by an expert panel discussion (Recorded Thursday 28 August 2025).

Phonics showcases (parts 1 and 2)

Webinars

Part 1 examines the Science of Reading, addresses common misconceptions about teaching reading, investigates orthographic mapping and explores regular and irregular words and instructional implications (recorded February 2025).

Part 2 discusses how the application of cognitive science can enhance phonics instruction and implementation of high impact teaching strategies (recorded March 2025).

Drop in sessions

Part 1: Reviews 'Phonics showcase - part 1 focusing on examining common misconceptions about teaching reading and the difference between the Science of Reading vs Structured Literacy (recorded September 2025).

Part 2: 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 (recorded October 2025).

The art and science of implementation

Webinar: Explores the vital role of implementation science bridging research and practice through the lens of phonics instruction. Participants engage with a template designed to guide leaders through the process of implementation to achieve the best outcomes for all students (recorded March 2025)

Drop in session: Highlights content from 'Phonics success: The art and science of implementation' webinar, exploring the vital role 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 (recorded November 2025).

Phonics: Piecing it all together

Webinar: This session focuses on how to use universal resources to implement exemplary phonics instruction (recorded March 2025).

Drop in session: reviews the 'Phonics: Piecing it all together,' webinar, including a summary of the ‘Learn, Do, Reflect’ professional learning cycle as a framework for creating contextualised pathways for leading phonics improvement. 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