Reading
Intent
At our school, we believe that reading is the key to lifelong learning and success. Our aim is to develop confident, fluent, and enthusiastic readers who enjoy reading for both pleasure and purpose.
Through a rich and engaging reading curriculum, pupils are taught the skills needed to decode, comprehend, analyse, and respond to a wide range of texts. We provide opportunities for children to explore high-quality fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and diverse literature that reflects the world around them and broadens their understanding of others.
We strive to ensure that every child:
- Develops a love of reading and sees themselves as a reader.
- Reads fluently and with increasing confidence.
- Understands and interprets a range of texts.
- Builds a rich vocabulary to support reading, writing, and communication.
- Thinks critically about what they read and can discuss texts thoughtfully.
- Uses reading as a gateway to learning across the curriculum and beyond.
By the time pupils leave our school, they will possess the reading skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm needed to become successful learners and engaged members of society.
Implementation
Year R & Year 1
We use ELS (Essential Letters & Sounds) to build and develop their decoding skills. Children use books from our reading scheme in order to develop fluency and speed while reading. Some children may need further support with phonics in Year 2 or above, which is conducted in small groups or individually as appropriate.
Year 2 - Year 6
Children follow a structured reading programme throughout the week that combines teacher-led instruction, independent reading, and personalised learning opportunities:
- One day each week, children take part in a guided reading session with their teacher. These lessons focus on comprehension, vocabulary development, inference, prediction, and discussion skills.
- One day each week is dedicated to reading for pleasure, fostering a love of books and encouraging children to explore a wide range of authors, genres, and texts.
- Three days each week, children access focused reading lessons through our online platform, Lexia. This provides personalised learning pathways tailored to individual needs, enabling children to develop reading skills at their own pace. Children are encouraged to access this platform at home.
Reading for pleasure
At our school, we are committed to fostering a lifelong love of reading. Reading for pleasure is an integral part of our curriculum and daily school life. Children regularly share and discuss books with their peers and adults, helping to develop positive reading habits and enthusiasm for literature. They are encouraged to choose books independently from their classroom libraries, allowing them to explore a wide range of authors, genres and interests.
Every day, pupils enjoy dedicated story time, where they listen to carefully selected whole-class texts. These texts are chosen from the CUSP Reading Spine and expose children to rich vocabulary, diverse characters, significant authors and high-quality literature. Through these shared reading experiences, we aim to inspire curiosity, imagination and a genuine enjoyment of reading that extends beyond the classroom.
By creating a culture where reading is valued, celebrated and enjoyed, we help every child develop as a confident and enthusiastic reader.
