Lou Laurie - Y1 class teacher/KS1 phase lead/Reading lead - Alexandra Primary School

Summary

An exemplary Primary Practitioner, Early Reading Specialist, and Phase Leader with deep expertise in Systematic Synthetic Phonics and early writing curriculum design. Successfully re-sequenced Key Stage 1 writing frameworks to prioritise transcription skills and dictation, significantly raising pupil fluency and independence. Combines strategic Senior Leadership Team experience with system leadership for the Wandle English Hub, delivering impactful whole-school CPD, cross-Key Stage reading interventions, and bespoke parent workshops. Dedicated to inclusive, adaptive teaching that ensures high outcomes for all pupils, including disadvantaged and SEND learners.

Overview

29

years of professional experience

Work History

Y1 class teacher/KS1 phase lead/Reading lead

Alexandra Primary School

Kingston upon Thames, Surrey

01.2015 - Current

Whole-School CPD & Training: Designed and delivered whole-school staff development on phonics and early reading/fluency, including annual Little Wandle refresher training to ensure consistent delivery, high-fidelity practice across all year groups.
English Hub & Leadership: Delivered the Transforming School Reading Cultures programme for the Wandle English Hub over two years; part of the school’s English Strategy Group to steer whole-school literacy improvement.
Cross-Key Stage Phonics & Reading Interventions: Coached and supported KS2 teachers and support staff to deliver targeted phonics interventions and reading groups, with an explicit focus on developing fluency, confidence, comprehension, and automaticity.
Parental Engagement: Designed and facilitated interactive parent workshops on phonics and early reading and reading fluency, empowering families to support home learning and strengthening home-school links.
Curriculum Design & Impact: Re-sequenced the KS1 writing curriculum to prioritise explicit transcription skills and dictation, in line with the new writing framework, significantly boosting pupil fluency and independence (externally cited as exemplary by School Improvement Partner).
Audit Success & Reading Culture: Led the school through a recent successful English Hub early reading audit, moving Little Wandle SSP into the maintenance phase while improving reading environments and updating decodable books, fluency books and RFP book stocks.
Closing the Attainment Gap: Work with class teachers to analyse data to establish targeted interventions and adaptive seating arrangements for disadvantaged pupils, securing accelerated progress against starting points.
Wider Leadership & Strategic Planning: Active member of the Wider Leadership Team, attending weekly WLT meetings to shape school policy and leading weekly phase meetings to disseminate key strategic messages and drive consistent practice across the team.
Mentorship: Provided weekly structured mentoring for Early Career Teachers (ECTs), delivering targeted coaching on sequential lesson planning, behaviour management, and parental communication.
Safeguarding & Inclusion: Maintained rigorous compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and collaborated closely with the SENCO to design and implement tailored scaffolding, SEND support plans and provision for pupils with SEND support and EHCPs.

Reception teacher/EYFS Lead/Phonics Lead

Seven Mills Primary school

Isle Of Dogs, East London

09.1997 - 07.2011

Senior Leadership & Early Years Strategy: Served as a core member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and EYFS Lead, steering early childhood strategy, managing team performance, and driving high standards across the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Classroom Teaching & Early Reading: Taught in Reception while serving as school-wide Phonics Lead, implementing systematic synthetic phonics, tracking early literacy milestones, and laying strong foundations for reading fluency.
Family Learning & Community Engagement: Acted as Family Learning Co-ordinator, designing, planning, and delivering bespoke workshops for parents and carers to strengthen home-school partnerships and empower families to support early learning at home.

Education

Bachelor of education - BEd honours Degree

The College of St Mark & St John-Exeter University

Plymouth, Devon

01-1997

Skills

Senior & Wider Leadership: Experienced Senior Leadership Team (SLT) member and Phase Leader skilled in shaping whole-school strategy, leading staff meetings, and driving school development priorities
System Leadership & CPD Delivery: Accomplished facilitator for the Wandle English Hub (Transforming School Reading Cultures programme); experienced in delivering whole-school phonics CPD and annual Little Wandle refresher training
ECT Mentorship & Coaching: Proven track record in providing structured mentorship to Early Career Teachers (ECTs) and coaching phase colleagues to build capacity in lesson sequencing, behaviour management, and parent communication
External Quality Assurance: Adept at preparing teams for external validation, securing exemplary feedback across multiple School Improvement Partner (SIP) visits and English Hub early reading audits
Evidence-Informed Practice: Applied expertise in Cognitive Load Theory, explicit instruction, Rosenshine’s principles, and adaptive teaching methodologies to optimise pupil retention and independence
Writing Curriculum Design: Skilled in resequencing early writing frameworks (Years 1 & 2), embedding daily explicit transcription and dictation mechanics to build pupil fluency and confidence
Phonics & Early Reading Mastery: Deep expertise in Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP)—specifically Little Wandle Letters & Sounds—leading whole-school implementation, maintenance phases, and reading environments

Cross-Key Stage Support: Skilled in supporting and upskilling KS2 teachers and support staff in phonics interventions, fluency, automaticity, and reading comprehension strategies
Data-driven intervention: Proficient in leveraging cohort assessment data to pinpoint learning gaps, establish targeted early-morning catch-up sessions, and deploy support staff for maximum impact
Inclusion strategies: Expertise in adaptive teaching and strategic classroom management (eg, adult-proximity seating, tailored questioning) to raise attainment for disadvantaged pupils and those with EHCPs/SEND
Early Years & EYFS Transition: Deep understanding of the EYFS framework, writing ELGs, baseline assessment, and seamless transitions between Reception and Key Stage 1
Parental & Community Engagement: Skilled Family Learning Coordinator with a proven background in designing and delivering bespoke parent workshops on phonics, early reading, and home learning
Safeguarding Compliance: Rigorous adherence to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidelines, maintaining high standards of pupil safety, mental health, and well-being

Professional Development & Training

KCSIE 2025-26

Safeguarding children-Level 1

Asthma and anaphylaxis training

An Inclusive Classroom & Executive functioning- by Educational Psychologist

NCSC Cyber Security

GDPR/Data protection

Timeline