Nina McElhone
Danielle Steendam from Literacy Advance has been working with my son who is in year 2. She has provided fantastic concrete directions to both my son and myself so that we know exactly what to do to develop the skills required! We have been working on the development of correct letter formation and the progress has been remarkable with my son now confidently forming his letters after the explicit instruction provided by Danielle.
I have been involved - observing every session and have been able to implement the home plan on the days between our weekly sessions. This involvement in the daily learning has had a really positive impact on my son and personally, it has been wonderful to know and understand the process of my son’s learning as opposed to having to guess how he is going with his learning in the school classroom.
Lauren Sawers
Danielle at Literacy Advance has been instrumental in my daughter’s progress to be able to learn to read and write. I am very grateful that we found Literacy Advance. It scares me to think where we would be now if we did not seek help! My daughter’s school informed us towards the end of her first year in prep that she is in the lower bracket for reading and writing.
It all started to make sense as we were struggling to read the readers that were sent home without frustration and angst from both myself and my daughter. It was not enjoyable. My daughter was finding the transition into school life difficult and was always upset when it was school drop off time and now it all makes sense because she was struggling silently.
Danielle is brilliant with my daughter and just knows how to engage and make learning fun for kids so that it is an enjoyable experience. I really felt helpless as the parent as there was a massive disconnect for my daughter and her ability to learn and process what is being taught in the classroom. After each session with Danielle, I felt so empowered to help my daughter and her progress has been nothing short of amazing.
We all shed a little tear when my daughter finally read on her own! The one on one sessions have been invaluable for me as the parent. I have learnt so much from Danielle specifically how to help my child learn to read and write. Having this knowledge has helped my daughter as I am able to continue the learning at home each day rather than just a weekly one on one session.
I recommend Literacy Advance to anyone who is experiencing a child that is struggling with reading and writing as Danielle is a wealth of knowledge… and a lovely person!!
Emily Fox
My son, Zac and I attend each session together, which has allowed me to keep the learning going at home throughout the week. Using the same language he hears from Danielle - like ‘tall stick’ or ‘gate that was closed = b’ - has made such a difference. The progress he makes week after week is nothing short of remarkable. It feels like watching a light grow brighter inside him.
There are truly no words that can fully capture how incredible our experience with Danielle Steendam from Literacy Advance has been. Our family has been seeing her for nearly two years, and the growth, confidence and belief she has helped build in our son has been life changing. I will forever be grateful for the care, patience and expertise she brings to every session.
What makes this experience even more special is that it isn’t just Zac who looks forward to seeing Danielle - I do as well! It is not just that her knowledge of literacy in the foundational years of schooling is exceptional, but it’s also the way she shares that knowledge that sets her apart. She explains things with such clarity, warmth and passion. She has a rare gift for opening children’s minds and getting all their little ‘cogs’ turning.
Danielle hasn’t just supported Zac’s learning; she has transformed the way he sees himself as a learner and has given us tools that have strengthened our learning as a family. We are beyond grateful fo there, and I cannot recommend highly enough - Danielle and the work she does at Literacy Advance.
I have been involved - observing every session and have been able to implement the home plan on the days between our weekly sessions. This involvement in the daily learning has had a really positive impact on my son and personally, it has been wonderful to know and understand the process of my son’s learning as opposed to having to guess how he is going with his learning in the school classroom.
Erentia Young
In February 2025, I approached Danielle Steendam from Literacy Advance for extra literacy support for my children. As a homeschooling mum, I realised that one of my children was struggling with his reading and writing, but I didn't know where to turn to for the proper help that we needed. How glad I am that I found Danielle! As a specialist teacher, Danielle did a thorough assessment to establish where my child was at. We had weekly sessions with her throughout this year, and the growth in my child has been phenomenal! Not only did Danielle teach my son, she also taught me how to teach and support my son, therefore I was fully engaged in every session. I loved that Danielle left nothing to chance.
Progress was tracked and monitored on a weekly basis, to ensure that we were moving towards the goals we had set at the start of each term. It was evident throughout this year that Danielle has a true passion for what she does. She celebrated my son's growth with us every step of the way. She has a warm and very encouraging approach, and I could tell that she truly believes in the ability of every student that walks through her door. As a mum, I will forever be grateful for the literacy support that Danielle provided to our family. Thank you Danielle!
Rachel Dickson
My seven-year-old is always excited for her sessions with Danielle. We live on a farm in remote Queensland and do weekly online sessions with Literacy Advance. Danielle’s energy and enthusiasm keeps my daughter engaged for the entire hour-long session. We’ve already seen great progress, and the most important part for our family has been how Danielle involves me in the process so we can actually achieve results together. Danielle has also been in contact with my daughter’s school, sharing some different approaches for support and there is a real sense of everybody working together to help with the best outcomes for my daughter.
