


Improving literacy at Springfield Community Primary School

Why Bedrock?
At Springfield Community Primary School in Burnley, a high number of learners were beginning their journey at the school with a very limited vocabulary, and the school identified this as an area that they would like to improve. They implemented Bedrock with KS2 (years 3-6) to improve this vocabulary deficit.
Implementing Bedrock
At Springfield Community Primary School Bedrock is used within guided reading sessions and has also been used as a homework provision, especially during the pandemic.
Bedrock Learning
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Using Bedrock Learning at Springfield Community Primary School
We began using Bedrock to improve our children’s vocabulary. We know that our children start school with limited vocabulary, and we recognised that this was an area to improve. Using Bedrock introduces our children to a variety of new words, and they can self-learn both at school and at home. We're using Bedrock with KS2 - Years 3-6.
We began using Bedrock to improve our children’s vocabulary. We know that our children start school with limited vocabulary, and we recognised that this was an area to improve. Using Bedrock introduces our children to a variety of new words, and they can self-learn both at school and at home. We're using Bedrock with KS2 - Years 3-6.

"Vocabulary is a huge part of our curriculum and using Bedrock provides discreet vocabulary sessions for children alongside what we do as a school."
Would you consider Springfield CPS to be a language-rich community?
Yes! We ensure our classroom environments are vocabulary rich allowing teachers to immerse children in the wonderful world of words! We introduce texts with interesting and high-level vocabulary and we are incredibly mindful about how we use language throughout the day.
What do you have in place to support whole-school literacy?
We follow a cross-curricular curriculum across all classes to ensure children can use vocabulary repetitively and in different contexts, this allows it to become more embedded in their long-term memory. Our English units begin with a long reading phase, with lots of different texts introduced, lots of vocabulary discussion and activities as well as role play and drama activities.
How have you implemented Bedrock and what has worked?
We use Bedrock as an activity in our Guided Reading sessions. Throughout lockdown, it was used as an online learning resource. We celebrate children’s successes and the progress they make in class assemblies. We share the words that have been learnt and we look at how we can use them in our writing.
In what ways does the actionable data generated by Bedrock inform your practice in the classroom and across the school?
As a school, we track the use of Bedrock and sessions completed over a week. We are constantly analysing how we can utilise the information in changing situations, particularly lockdown and isolations.
What challenges do you face and how has Bedrock supported you in overcoming these challenges?
We face many challenges around academic achievement in our school, with children making good progress but not necessarily meeting attainment expectations. Our school is in a highly deprived area and so language acquisition is generally poor and as a school, we work together to raise children’s vocabulary and understanding. We also have a rising number of children with English as an additional language and therefore Bedrock is a valuable resource for children that have built their confidence and are able to speak English but are not always sure of new words and their meanings.
Case Studies
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Success in every subject at St Anselm's Catholic School
"Subjects get to cherry-pick their words, but the way that students learn is completely consistent."
How we use Bedrock Learning at Coston Primary
"From a workload perspective [for teachers], there is no workload with Bedrock. It's been wonderful for our teachers to use."
Why the Harris Federation chose to partner with Bedrock
"Bedrock Learning certainly has the power to turn students into linguists and open doors to their futures. Vocabulary is the absolute lever point to their future and therefore Bedrock Learning has the power to create their future."
Doubling national literacy progress at St Mary’s CEVA Primary School
"I can’t think of a programme that can support children in their vocabulary building better than Bedrock."
Data & Reporting within Harris Federation academies
"As a Literacy Lead overseeing 32 secondary schools, it's a massive challenge. Bedrock Learning certainly gives me the insights and the possibility of penetrating the literacy vision within each of those schools." - Charlotte Evans, Literacy Lead at Harris Federation
Improving reading comprehension by 20% for KS3 learners at Taverham High School
"Overall, we are seeing that reading comprehension across our Key Stage 3 learners has improved by 20%.”
Impacting outcomes for Pupil Premium, EAL and SEND learners at Harris Federation
"We have had remarkable success with some of our English as an Additional Language students, they have really shone with this and they love that empowerment of learning new words."
Using Bedrock for the humanities at St. Anselm's
"We had a member of senior leadership from another school come and visit, and they couldn't believe that our Year 8's knew [words] that they were struggling with with their GCSE [learners]. Our Year 8's have just flown with it."
Partnering with Bedrock across the Harris Federation
"All 32 of our schools are now fully-fledged, signed up members of the Bedrock crew... and this is because we have been able to show evidence of excellence."