Our Approach to Teaching and Learning
At Port Melbourne Primary School, we believe that every child deserves the best possible start to their learning journey. That’s why we don’t leave learning to chance. Our approach is built on the most effective, research-backed teaching methods, ensuring that every student develops the knowledge and skills they need to thrive—not just in school, but in life.
We know how the brain learns best, and we use that knowledge to make every lesson clear, engaging, and effective.
When students are taught explicitly, with structure and purpose, they don’t just learn—they excel.
A Smarter Approach to Learning
Education should be powerful, purposeful, and proven to work. At Port Melbourne Primary, we use explicit instruction—a high-impact, evidence-based approach that ensures every student gets the structured, guided teaching they need to succeed.
This method isn’t about rote learning—it’s about clarity, mastery, and deep understanding. We break down complex ideas into clear steps, actively engage students in every lesson, and provide the right level of support at the right time. This accelerates learning and builds the confidence and independence students need to take on any challenge.
Reading: The Foundation for Success
We know that strong reading skills open doors to every part of a child’s education, and we take literacy seriously. At Port Melbourne Primary, we use the Science of Reading—an approach based on decades of research in how the brain learns to read.
We explicitly teach phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension in a structured way, ensuring students master the building blocks of reading from the start. Our reading instruction isn’t guesswork—it’s systematic, evidence-based, and designed to help every child become a confident, skilled reader.
In Every Classroom, You’ll See:
✅ Crystal-clear, structured teaching – Lessons are carefully designed so every student can build their knowledge step by step, without gaps or confusion.
✅ Active, high-impact learning – No child is a passenger in their own education. Our teachers check for understanding in real time, ensuring every student is engaged, thinking, and responding.
✅ Practice that leads to mastery – Learning sticks when students apply new skills repeatedly. Our approach ensures long-term retention, fluency, and confidence.
This is how real learning happens—not by chance, but by design. No one is left behind. No one is held back. Every student, no matter where they start, gets the instruction and support they need to reach their full potential.
At Port Melbourne Primary, we are committed to delivering the highest-quality education possible—because every child deserves nothing less.
To see how this comes to life in our classrooms, explore our Instructional Model and Instructional Playbook below. These documents outline the proven strategies and routines we use to make learning engaging, effective, and accessible for every student.