Our Approach to Reading

We believe in developing a reading culture throughout the school by creating welcoming book areas in classrooms, a well stocked school library, and raising the profile of reading through a print rich environment, attractive book displays and promoting the written word at all times. High priority is given to reading in KS1 and KS2. Early reading skills being taught within the Foundation Stage.

Reading is taught through: 

1. Early Reading

In EYFS and Year 1, pupils follow  Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised. This is a DFE approved high quality, systematic and synthetic programme of phonics teaching which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.

2. Whole class reading that develops listening skills, a love of story and reading for pleasure and enjoyment. 

This is teacher led reading with children listening and responding to questions, predictions and vocabulary choices as appropriate to the level of the children. 

3. Shared reading that immerses children in the pattern of story and features of text types.

This happens in English sessions when introducing text and prior to writing, this also takes place during the Ready for Reading sessions. The teacher models as an expert reader and draws out the key elements of the content.

4. Reading activities that target children’s reading skills. 

In KS1 and KS2 (Ready for Reading) this will consist of three reads per week developing children's skills in decoding, prosody and comprehension.

 

Independent reading in school and at home

Foundation Stage and KS1:

Books are sent home with a reading record or log for communication with parents.

The children take home a ‘Reading Scheme’ book to read or look at with their parents. Books are changed on a weekly basis by teaching assistants or teachers.

The ‘reading scheme’ books have a controlled vocabulary and therefore children are moved through the stages as they are able to apply their phonic knowledge to decode words and recognise ‘tricky’ words. Alongside this the children have access to ‘Collins E-Library’, an on-line reading tool. This allows them to read e-books, at their own reading level.

Children will also bring home a library book to share-read with parents.

KS2

In KS2 children access the Accelerated Reader scheme, children select books from the library based on their ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development) score. These books become the scheme books for KS2 children. ZPD is assessed half termly using the Star Reader Test on Accelerated Reader. 

Accelerated Reader is an on-line tool used for monitoring and managing independent reading practise, motivating pupils to read for pleasure. It is aimed to engage pupils with their reading, increasing reading comprehension, understanding of the text and improve vocabulary skills.

School Library

The school library provides reference and reading materials for children and teachers. 

Each child and teacher has a unique bar-code that is used to record books borrowed. Each class is timetabled to have time in the library. The school encourages all children to join and use their local library through weekly trips for children to borrow and return books.