King’s College Riyadh will introduce the Read Write Inc. phonics programme from the start of the 2026-27 academic year as part of a broader effort to strengthen literacy across its early years and primary curriculum.
The British international school said the programme, one of the United Kingdom’s best-known early reading systems, will initially be introduced in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) before extending across Reception to Year 3, with instruction tailored to each child’s stage of reading development rather than age.
The move reflects the school’s focus on building strong foundations in reading, writing and communication while supporting students’ wider academic development.
Used in more than 8,000 schools across the UK, Read Write Inc. is an award-winning literacy programme designed to help children become confident readers while developing writing, spelling, vocabulary and communication skills. The programme aims for children to begin reading simple texts by the end of Reception and storybooks by the end of Year 1.
Individual learning at the centre
A key feature of the programme is its emphasis on assessing each student’s reading ability before instruction begins.
King’s College Riyadh said pupils will complete a baseline assessment before being placed into groups according to their reading level rather than their age. The school said this approach will allow teachers to deliver targeted instruction that reflects individual learning needs while enabling students to progress at an appropriate pace.
Regular assessments throughout the academic year will monitor each student’s development and help ensure teaching continues to match their reading ability as they build confidence and fluency.
The school said reading remains a core skill underpinning achievement across all areas of learning, making early intervention particularly important.
Daily phonics lessons build reading confidence
The programme will be delivered through daily phonics lessons that introduce children to the relationship between letters and sounds while teaching them how to blend sounds together to read unfamiliar words.
As students become more confident with decoding words, lessons will focus on improving reading fluency and supporting broader literacy development through writing, spelling and vocabulary.
The structured approach is intended to provide children with a consistent pathway from recognising individual sounds to reading increasingly complex texts independently.
By introducing the programme across Reception to Year 3, the school aims to provide continuity during the critical early years of literacy development while allowing students to move between groups as their reading skills improve.
Parents to play an active role
Alongside classroom teaching, King’s College Riyadh plans to involve parents more closely in supporting children’s literacy development.
Families will have access to online resources and home-learning activities designed to complement classroom instruction, enabling parents to reinforce phonics and reading practice outside school.
The school said combining school-based teaching with structured support at home will help create a consistent approach to reading and strengthen children’s confidence as they develop literacy skills.
Supporting academic success
Jacqueline Doran, principal of King’s College Riyadh, said the introduction of Read Write Inc. reflects the school’s commitment to adopting internationally recognised teaching approaches that support every student’s development.
“At King’s College Riyadh, we believe reading is a vital skill that supports learning across all subjects and helps students grow in confidence,” Doran said.
“By introducing Read Write Inc., we are adopting an internationally recognised, evidence-informed approach that supports every student’s development and helps them become confident, fluent readers.”
She added that the school looks forward to working closely with families as the programme is introduced.
“We look forward to working closely with families as we introduce the programme and continue providing our students with the strongest possible start to their learning journey.”
Building on a British education model
King’s College Riyadh said the new literacy initiative aligns with its broader educational approach, which combines British teaching methods with an appreciation of Saudi culture and values.
The school said this model is designed to support both academic achievement and personal development while providing students with high-quality teaching across the curriculum.
The introduction of Read Write Inc. marks another investment in the school’s early years provision as it prepares for the 2026-27 academic year, with literacy positioned as a foundation for learning across every subject area.
