Reading

In Early Years and Key Stage 1, reading is mainly taught through the Read Write Inc Programme.

Read Write Inc is an inclusive teaching programme, which includes the rapid teaching of synthetic phonics. It is based on learning the common sounds in the English language and how to sound-blend over a short period of time, alongside letter formation and spelling. Then reading books with words the children can sound-blend, so they have early success in reading. The more sounds the children learn, the greater the range of books they can read. Comprehension is also an integral element of the programme where they answer questions based on the book they are reading to develop their understanding of the texts.

In Key Stage 1 Read, Write Inc. and Bug Club (online learning platform) reading schemes are used. Oxford Reading Tree e-Books can also be accessed in school and at home via the Oxford Owl website (using the class login) Each child is given a Read Write Inc book bag book or assigned a book to their online Bug Club account, which they will read in school and at home. Sometimes the children will read the book as part of the guided reading lesson with their teacher and will then take it home to practise by themselves, with key words to take home to learn. These words are taken from the high frequency word lists for Reception and Year 1 and 2 and are words which cannot be sounded out therefore children need practise to read them by seeing them written down. The children have their own reading records, which are signed when they have read in school or at home and contain comments and information about the children’s progress in reading, which includes reading high frequency words.

Reading for pleasure is encouraged, all children are able to choose their own book from the class library loan box to read during quiet reading times in school and to take home with them. The books in the library loan box have been chosen by the class teacher so that they are appropriate for each year group and will be of interest to the class, substantial investment has been committed to develop class libraries each year. In addition, a variety of high quality, enjoyable and age appropriate e-Books can also be accessed in school and at home via the Oxford Owl website, using the class login. 

It is important that the children hear exciting stories being read to them to develop a love of reading. The class teacher will use story time to share stories from the class library or read a longer 'class reader' which can be continued over several days or weeks. The teacher will model appropriate fluency, pace and expression when reading and also clarify any new vocabulary, which is very important. 

We hold regular meetings with parents and carers to explain how we teach children to read following the Read, Write Inc. programme. In the meetings we show how we teach each sound and how this then builds up to reading words and eventually books. We also show parents and carers how they can help to support their child's reading at home and provide up to date assessments of their current phonic knowledge ​and resources to help with this. 

In Key Stage 2 the children continue to move through the reading levels, at an appropriate pace, with their home reading book that is chosen from our large selection of Reading Planet fiction and non-fiction books and Bug Club and Reading Plus (online learning platforms). The children have their own reading records, which are signed when they have read in school or at home and contain comments about the children’s progress in reading. Class teachers will move the children to a different stage when they are ready; sometimes they do not need to read all books in each stage before moving on. In addition to their home reading staged book there is a regular opportunity to select a class library book to enjoy in school and at home and they are encouraged to choose books and authors they are interested in. When the reading levels are complete they may choose their own book from our wide range of high quality novels which contains classic and modern literature written by significant children’s authors and our non-fiction section which is wide and varied. The class teachers will support the children to choose books that they will enjoy but that will also challenge their reading and comprehension skills. The Oxford Owl website is also used to enable learners to access reading scheme books (Oxford Reading Tree) and a wide variety of high quality, challenging fiction and non-fiction texts in school and at home using their class login.

 It is important that children develop a good understanding of what they have read as such they are encouraged to talk about their text at home with parents and carers and in school. The children are asked to complete reading activities for some books that they have read and enjoyed, which helps the children to develop a deeper understanding of the text they have read. Comprehension activities will be sent home regularly via homework books, Bug Club or Oxford Owl.