English – Reading
Intent
At Harpole Primary School, we value reading as a key life skill, and therefore it is our priority to prepare all children for life with this school. It is our intention to ensure that by the end of their primary education, all pupils are able to read fluently and with confidence in any subject so that they are prepared for their forthcoming secondary education. We strive for all of our pupils to achieve a love of reading and cultivate independent thinkers who understand more about the world in which they live through the knowledge they gain from texts. Reading is an integral part of our curriculum.
We intend for all of our pupils in KS1 to achieve the expected standard in Phonics. Developing early phonics skills is of high importance to us to ensure that children can decode texts from an early age -learning to read but more importantly reading to learn. We also intend for all of our children across school to achieve the expected standard by teaching reading and comprehension so that they can read with fluency, accuracy and understanding. We feel it is important to inspire an interest in words and what they mean to enable children to develop an increasing oral and written vocabulary.
We foster a home-school partnership, which encourages parents to read at home with their child. We invite parents to regular sessions which provides parents with support on how to get the most out of reading at home with their child.
Implementation
Phonics
We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds SSP programme. Daily lessons take place for a duration of 25-30 minutes in the morning from Reception to Year 2. A catch-up session is taught in the afternoon to ensure that sounds are retained and applied to reading. In EYFS, there is a focus on sharing stories, rhymes and songs every day. Phonics is used throughout school to support all readers and these skills are reinforced across all areas of the curriculum. Phonics interventions are used to support children across school where necessary.
Phonics lessons follow a four-part whole class teaching sequence: Review, Teach, Practise and Apply. Pure sounds are taught alongside the correct use of vocabulary; phoneme, digraph, segment, blend. Sound talk is used to segment a word and blending enables a word to be read. Sound fingers are used to spell.
We use Big Cat Phonics reading books which follow the Little Wandle’s Letters and Sounds phonics programme. Pupils are given a reading book that is matched to their phonic ability up to Phase 6. This is based on the child’s phonic assessment. In EYFS and KS1 children read to a member of staff twice each week and they have a book change during this time as well as an opportunity to choose a library book of their choice. KS2 children are responsible for changing their book on a regular basis and are heard read at least once a fortnight. Children are heard additionally where the need is felt. Teacher assessment as well as speed reading tests are carried out to assess pupils reading and fluency.
Reading lessons
At Harpole Primary, we teach reading skills in a whole class setting. In EYFS and KS1 this done in a whole class lesson called Book Talk. This is to ensure that all children are challenged, read more regularly and are exposed to quality texts and teacher led discussions. Through this, children have access to a wider range of vocabulary and grammar.
Throughout school, reading skills are modelled, discussed and made explicit to ensure children know that there is more to reading than just decoding words. There is clear progression across school as focus is based on the National Curriculum expectations which include the VIPERS. Across school, children will have an in depth reading lesson a week alongside reading carried out as part of a writing lesson. In Reception and Year 1 the Book Talk lesson is very practical and engaging with the use of floor books to evidence the learning. From Year 2 to Year 6 the children also engage in exciting whole class reading lessons which pupils record their own work in their English boo.
Reading for pleasure
Reading for pleasure is very important at Harpole Primary School. Each class has access to rich texts available for children to read and to promote a love of reading. Children are given time to read and a class story is shared every day with enthusiasm and shared joy between teacher and pupils. Books are shared across the curriculum and the corridors at Harpole Primary are filled with exciting texts to pique the interest of all readers. These pleasure texts are chosen based on topics and children’s interests. We also have a Reading Champion who leads lunch time Book Club sessions across the school with a focus on enjoyment and reading for pleasure. At Harpole Primary we are keen to keep the magic of reading alive and take every opportunity to do so, including wow days such as World Book day. Where both pupils and staff take part in exciting activities based inspiring our love for reading.
Reading At Home
As a school we actively promote reading at home. All children are expected to bring in their reading book and reading record every day. Teachers are responsible for checking who is reading regularly at home and acting upon this as appropriate. Children receive a Dojo for reading at home at least 3 times a week, managed by the class teacher.
Impact
Children enjoy reading and they are confident readers. Children are able to talk about books and make links to everyday life. Phonics is assessed regularly and outcomes are shown through the Phonics Screening Check at the end of Year 1 and Year 2. Ongoing teacher assessment and termly National Test- style Standardised Assessment is used to assess pupils understanding of texts and vocabulary.
Useful Links
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/