Strategies for English Language Learning and Reading (STELLAR) was developed to strengthen the teaching of the English Language (EL) through a balanced combination of explicit instruction in language skills, including grammar and phonics, and the use of age-appropriate children’s stories to promote a positive attitude towards learning in the foundational years. Drawing from theoretical models of reading and language learning, a team of curriculum developers translated findings from international research into pedagogical practices that met the needs of Singapore’s students, who were learning English in a bilingual, multicultural context. Since 2015, the programme has been revised substantially to be contextually attuned to the learning needs of our students and to better prepare them for the future. Since 2023, digital reading and the use of digitalised instructional materials have been incorporated as part of the curriculum to deliver the desired outcomes of the English Language Syllabus 2020.