Reading

'Reading is the one ability, that once set in motion, has the ability to feed itself, grow exponentially and provide a basis from which possibilities are limitless’.

Michael Morpurgo

We Are A Reading School

We therefore:

• Promote a love of reading and books at every opportunity. Our displays reflect this and are evident in classrooms and corridors. Our children regularly access the school library and are encouraged to join their local library. Our staff read to children every day – they are advocates for reading.

• Have a rigorous and a consistent approach to phonics. All our staff receive phonics training. We aim to ensure pupils master the phonic code as soon as possible.

• Have a consistent approach for children who fall behind. We assess against the Babcock objectives for Years 1-6 and we ensure children only move up bookbands when they are ready.

• Have a ‘read it and understand it’ approach in Early Years and KS1. We plan comprehension activities as much as phonics because we understand that children need both skills to be an effective reader.

• Use VIPERS to promote children’s articulation of the key reading skills apart from phonics.

• Use a rotation timetable between guided sessions with differentiated texts and whole class shared reads with differentiated activities.

• Use a variety of high quality texts and resources.

• Keep detailed records which have comments linked to the skills. We have a consistent approach to reading records/guided reading books. Reading records are used to promote regular reading at home.

• Have a structured approach for ‘free readers’. • Link our reading explicitly to writing skills (this may be through displays, learning journeys and follow up activities which promote writing based on reading. book.