At the heart of excellent reading provision is excellent teaching. Supported by a culture of continuous professional development across all of our schools, our staff benefit from ongoing, research-informed training to ensure that every teacher and teaching assistant has the knowledge, confidence, and skill to teach reading effectively, from early phonics to advanced comprehension and fluency.

Professional development is delivered through a combination of network collaboration, coaching, and professional learning communities. Our EYFS, SEND, and English networks provide platforms for teachers to share expertise, observe best practice, and discuss research-informed strategies tailored to their context. Reading leads in each school act as literacy champions, modelling effective practice, supporting colleagues and ensuring consistency in reading provision across the Trust.

Professional learning is sustained and developmental, not one-off. Staff are encouraged to engage critically with research, including the EEF’s literacy guidance reports, and to reflect on their own practice. By nurturing a culture of curiosity and professionalism, we ensure that every teacher across our Trust is — first and foremost — a teacher of reading.

All Legacy Learning Trust Primary schools ensure that:

• Professional learning is ongoing and developmental
• Staff engage with educational research and reflect on their own practice
• Staff share expertise
• Reading leads act as literacy champions
• Teachers receive targeted training – SEND, phonics specific
• CPD is linked to measurable impact

Through these approaches, all of our schools ensure that reading expertise is deeply embedded, consistently applied, and continually developed, equipping teachers to deliver the highest-quality reading instruction for every pupil.