St Anne's Catholic Primary School

Reading

Reading at St Anne’s School

Subject Leader Miss P Winterburn

“With Christ in our hearts we live life to the full.”

Intent

As a School of Reading, we value reading as a key life skill, and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers. Through reading, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, plays a key role in such development. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. We believe reading is key for academic success. We use a synthetic phonics programme called Read, Write Inc. Read, Write, Inc. phonics is an inclusive literacy programme for all children learning to read. Children learn the 44 common sounds in the English language and how to blend them to read and spell. It is powerful because it is based on the principles of how individuals learn. It is a fully inclusive method of teaching reading with the movement from imitation to investigation to independent application, which can be adapted to suit the needs of learners of any stage. Reading for pleasure is a key driver at our school and all teachers at St Anne’s Catholic Primary School are responsible for promoting this by:

Each classroom has a selection of books in their classroom which are directly linked with the class topic. This offers opportunities for the children to apply their reading skills across the curriculum.

Each classroom has a reading area that is filled with books suitable for their reading age. This is a comfortable place for children to read throughout the day.

Children take part in weekly Guided Reading lessons, where children are exposed to a range of different texts and can demonstrate their understanding and thinking behind these. Children who are not yet ‘free readers’, will work through our school reading scheme – these are levelled books which match the children’s current reading age. We expect family at home to read these books with their child daily and make comments in their child’s reading record.

The aim of this curriculum is to promote the highest standards of language and literacy by equipping children with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of reading.

We aim for children to be able to:

read easily, fluently and with good understanding

develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information

acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language

By the time children leave St Anne’s Catholic Primary School they are competent readers who can recommend books to their peers, have a thirst for reading a range of genres including poetry, and participate in discussions about books, including evaluating an author’s use of language and the impact this can have on the reader.

Implementation

The reading programme of study at St Anne’s follows the National Curriculum to ensure both progression and coverage across Key Stage 1 and 2

EYFS/KS1 – Read Write Inc

Children are introduced to Read, Write Inc phonics during the summer term in Nursery where they learn the pictures to match each sound. As the children move into reception they complete a baseline assessment and are then grouped accordingly ready to begin formal phonics teaching during the first week of reception. Read, write Inc sessions occur daily with no exceptions across EYFS and KS1.

KS2

Those children in Years 4/5/6 who are not reading to the required standard are assessed and grouped depending on their phonic ability. These children are then given intervention via Phonics for Life which is aimed at children in KS2. These children read age appropriate books which aim to quickly plug phonic gaps whilst also building fluency. Children who are not yet ‘free readers’ work through our school reading scheme – these are levelled books which match the children’s current reading age. We expect family at home to read these books with their child daily and make comments in their child’s reading record.

We use Oxford Reading Tree book banding system to:

Develop positive attitudes to reading that ensure reading is an enjoyable and meaningful experience
Use reading as a fundamental part of all curriculum planning and development
Develop a range of reading strategies that allow children to tackle reading problem and the wider curriculum with confidence
Read and respond to a variety of texts whilst developing an increased level of fluency and independence.

In KS2 or KS1 if appropriate, pupils continue to progress through the school reading scheme until they have completed it and are then able to become a free reader. Resources appropriate for SEND pupils are also available.
We expect family at home to read these books with their child daily and make comments in their child’s reading record. Additional reading is provided for those unable to read at home, those who are struggling to progress or those who are entitled to additional support.

We teach weekly Guided Reading lessons, where children are exposed to a range of different texts and can demonstrate their understanding and thinking behind these.

We promote reading for pleasure at our school by:

Engaging class reading areas in every classroom which are stocked with a range of classic and contemporary texts.
DEAR sessions at least 3 times a week in each class.
Displays around school which promote a love of reading.
Class novels.
Reading across the curriculum.

Impact

Through the teaching of systematic phonics, our aim is for children to become fluent readers by the end of Key Stage One. This way, children can focus on developing their fluency and comprehension as they move through the school. Attainment in reading is measured using the statutory assessments at the end of Key Stage One and Two. These results are measured against the reading attainment of children nationally. Attainment in phonics is measured by the Phonics Screening Test at the end of Year 1. However, we firmly believe that reading is the key to all learning and so the impact of our reading curriculum goes beyond the results of the statutory assessments. We give all children the opportunity to enter the magical worlds that books open up to them. We promote reading for pleasure as part of our reading curriculum. Children are encouraged to develop their own love of genres and authors and to review their books objectively. This enhances a deep love of literature across a range of genres, cultures and styles.