Literacy Guidance
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Literacy Guidance
Introducing the Literacy Framework for Primary Schools
The Department of Education has published Strong Foundations: Literacy Framework in Primary Schools, offering clear, evidence‑based guidance to strengthen oracy, reading and writing across all primary schools in Northern Ireland. Rooted in international research and tailored to local needs, the framework provides practical strategies for teachers, leaders and parents. Together with accompanying Guidelines to support a coherent approach to literacy development, it aims to ensure every child leaves primary school with the skills, confidence and enjoyment needed to thrive as a reader, writer and communicator.
Other Literacy Resources
To support schools and educators in understanding and implementing the Literacy Framework, the Department is providing a range of supplementary resources. These include webinars, PowerPoint and video presentations, Literacy Framework microguides, and further reading materials. These resources will be added to the website when available and are designed to offer practical insights, clarify key concepts, and support effective approaches to literacy teaching across primary education.
Literacy Symposium - December 2025
The Literacy Framework and Guidelines were launched by the Minister of Education, Paul Givan, at the Literacy Symposium in December 2025. The Symposium brought together more than 500 educationalists from across Northern Ireland.
The event focused on the Science of Reading and the importance of evidence‑based practice, providing a platform to share knowledge, strengthen teaching and drive improvement in classrooms.
Contributors from Northern Ireland and beyond included Dr Jennifer Buckingham OAM, Dr Jennifer O’Sullivan, Professor Jessie Ricketts, Maeve Savage, Ryon Leyshon, Dr Geraldine Magennis Clarke, and Emma Wills.
Powerpoint and video presentations can be accessed through the links below.
TransformED Literacy Symposium - Presentation Videos
Faustina Graham - Conference Presentation
Dr. Jennifer Buckingham - Conference Presentation
Dr. Jennifer O'Sullivan - Conference Presentation
Professor Jessie Ricketts - Conference Presentation
Maeve Savage - Conference Presentation
Paul Givan - Conference Presentation
Ryon Leyshon - Conference Presentation
Emma Wills - Conference Presentation
Documents
- DE Literacy Framework - 2025
- TransformED - Literacy Guidelines
- Literacy Leaflet
- Presentation - The Science of Reading and Systematic Approaches to Literacy (Dr Jennifer Buckingham)
- Presentation - Strengthening the Foundations Embedding Explicit Phonemic Awareness Instruction in Early Literacy Curricula (Dr Jennifer O Sullivan)
- Presentation - Reading across Transition from Primary to Secondary (Professor Jessie Ricketts)
- Presentation - The Experience and Impact of Explicit and Systematic Instruction (Maeve Savage)
- Presentation - The Power of Spelling How Explicit Instruction can Unlock Literacy in the Primary Years (Ryon Leyshon)
- Presentation - The Importance of Oral Reading Fluency in Building Reading Comprehension (Dr Geraldine Magennis Clarke)
- Presentation - Developing a Whole-School Reading Culture (Emma Wills)