Reading
As teachers of reading…
… we know that learning to read opens up a whole new world for our children to explore, understand and enjoy. We believe that developing confident, fluent readers with strong comprehension skills opens up a world of opportunity and enables children to thrive both academically and personally.
Reading is central to our curriculum and underpins success across all subjects. We have high expectations for every child and are ambitious for all pupils to become fluent, confident and enthusiastic readers. Through carefully chosen, high-quality texts across all subjects, children develop their vocabulary, background knowledge and understanding of language, enabling them to access the wider curriculum and become successful readers.
We are committed to creating a strong reading culture where books, stories and reading for pleasure are highly valued, celebrated and actively promoted throughout the school. By fostering positive reading habits and a love of books from the early years, we encourage children to read both for pleasure and to build their substantive knowledge in their learning, helping them to become lifelong readers.
Throughout the school, children benefit from regular opportunities to be read to by skilled adults, and in some classes volunteers. Teachers use high-quality class texts and other carefully selected materials that enhance and enrich the learning taking place across the curriculum. Children are exposed to a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts, including stories, poems, diaries and information books. These experiences enable children to encounter ambitious vocabulary, rich language structures and diverse viewpoints beyond those they can currently access independently.
We recognise that reading and writing are closely connected. Through regular exposure to rich and varied literature, children encounter ambitious vocabulary, diverse sentence structures and a wide range of genres. These experiences help children develop as effective communicators and support the development of their own writing.
Children read books that are closely matched to their stage of reading development so that they can build accuracy, automaticity, fluency and comprehension with confidence and success. We use phonics assessments in KS1 and STAR reading assessments (Accelerated Reader) and comprehension testing to ensure that reading materials are appropriately matched to each child. We recognise that fluency and comprehension can develop at different rates, so both are assessed regularly to identify next steps and provide timely support where needed.
Reading is taught systematically and progressively throughout the school. Staff regularly assess pupils’ reading fluency, accuracy and comprehension to identify strengths and areas for development, ensuring that all children receive the support and challenge they need to become successful readers. By developing fluent readers with a broad vocabulary and secure understanding of language, we ensure that children are well prepared to communicate effectively, think critically and succeed as writers across the curriculum.