EEF Project – Pathways Literacy

The Literacy Company is an experienced and dedicated team who share a passion for English. Our consultants work with schools nationally to enhance the curriculum, develop teachers and improve standards. Operating since 2013 and now in over 1000 schools in the UK and internationally.

Pathways Literacy is a programme aiming to improve pupils’ writing attainment, enjoyment and stamina using a structured approach to teaching grammar skills.  This pilot study involves the use of both Pathways to Write (P2W) and Pathways to Progress (P2P).

Pathways to Write (P2W)

• offers a structured approach to teaching writing
• follows a mastery learning model – key skills are taught and repeated
• incorporates guided instruction, teacher modelling and scaffolding suggestions
• ensures pupils apply skills through incidental short-burst writing opportunities
• works towards an extended written task at the end of a unit of work
• uses high-quality texts as stimuli
• lasts for four to six weeks, depending on the needs of a class
• provides flexible, adaptable planning to suit the needs of all pupils
• supports foundational skills and metacognitive strategies
• allows opportunities to practise all five stages of the writing process

P2W should be delivered to the whole class 5 hours per week in the order that units appear in the overview.  Supporting documents are included to support adaptive teaching strategies.

Pathways to Progress (P2P)

• is a linked, targeted writing intervention
• uses the same texts as the P2W programme
• runs concurrently with P2W
• focuses on previously taught skills, set out in half termly units
• is designed to be delivered by a trained teaching assistant (TA)
• supports up to six pupils for three 20-minute sessions per week
• includes all planning and resources needed to deliver the programme
• provides CPD subject-knowledge videos for TA or teacher use

Pupils should be selected based on independent writing so gaps in skills can be targeted. Different pupils may be chosen each half term.

The focus for this pilot is Year 3 only (Y3). P2W should be delivered in this year group from September 2025 for a full academic year. In the second half of the autumn term, once teachers are confident with the assessment of their pupils’ writing, P2P should be introduced.

We are looking for 20 primary schools to take part in the pilot, selected using the following criteria:

• Schools within the following regions: West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire & The Humber, North West, East of England for further details see the school information document here.
• Single-age year groups only – mixed-age group settings will not be considered due to the focus on Y3
• Schools must not participate in any other EEF-funded interventions during the 2025/26 academic year specifically: Writing Roots, Power of Reading, Rehearsal Room Writing, and Tutoring with the Lightning Squad
• Schools should not already be using P2W or P2P in Y3, but may use other Literacy Company programmes, such as Pathways to Read

Schools must commit to the following:

• Subject leader to oversee the project, leading action planning with Y3 team to change practice over time
• Y3 teacher and subject leader must attend ½ day’s training on mastery and P2W in July 2025
• Y3 teacher, subject leader and TA must attend a full day’s P2P training in September 2025
• Y3 teacher and subject leader must attend 3 termly cluster meetings (1.5hrs) alongside other participating schools to support with the implementation of Pathways Literacy
• Y3 teacher and TA must attend 2x ½ day learning community training sessions in October and January
• Using P2W planning and resources, teach Y3 for the full academic year 2025-26 with suggested, high-quality texts
• Ring-fence a TA to deliver 3 x 20 minute P2P intervention sessions per week to six pupils Working Towards Expected Standard using planning and resources provided
• Y3 teacher and P2P TA meet weekly to discuss progress, make adaptations and complete any necessary documentation
• Ensure P2P TA watches short, relevant CPD videos to support subject knowledge

Questions about the Pathways Literacy pilot? Please contact the delivery team at The Literacy Company or follow the link below:

eefproject@theliteracycompany.co.uk

The Literacy Company, Suite A, 3^rd Floor, Linenhall House, Stanley Street, Chester, CH1 2LR

Questions about the evaluation? Please contact the evaluation team at Oxford MeasurEd:

PL-evaluation@oxfordmeasured.co.uk

You can also read the school information form here.