Reading

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Dr. Seuss, Children’s Author

Why we teach your child to read:

Supporting children to develop good language and literacy skills underpins educational success in all areas of the curriculum as well as building future achievement and rewarding lives.

By the time children leave Wilberforce Primary we want our children to be 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.

Overall, it is our aim to promote a real love of reading which will ensure that they continue to be life-long learners.

What our curriculum looks like:

We have developed an ambitious curriculum that starts from the EYFS to Year 6. Texts chosen are high quality and build on children’s language and reading skills. In EYFS and KS1 we place a strong emphasis on the teaching of phonics, so children quickly become fluent readers. As they progress through the school, we also develop comprehension knowledge so children leave use able to read and comprehend fluently.

In EYFS we share stories with children daily and develop a love of reading – we encourage them to retell and role-play their favourite stories. Children will be exposed to a range of texts – from traditional tales to nursery rhymes and this support their oracy.

In KS1 they continue to read and hear and read a range of texts which become more challenging. They receive daily phonics sessions, participate in comprehension sessions and read across the curriculum.

By the time pupils enter KS2 we expect them to have mastered phonics and will focus on developing their comprehension skills. The school has carefully designed a sequential reading curriculum which exposes children to texts which increase in difficulty as they progress through the school.

All children are read to at the end of the day for story time, this consists of carefully chosen texts which leaders have chosen to expose children to a wider range of literature which includes diverse authors.

We are fortunate to have a well-stocked library which children visit regularly to choose a book to read for pleasure.

Reading Curriculum

Reading Curriculum Overview

How We Teach Reading

Phonics

Comprehension

As a research informed school, we have developed our own unique reading learning journey for the teaching of comprehension alongside the teaching of phonics in EYFS and KS1. Our whole class approach focuses on the teaching of background knowledge as this ensures children will be able to understand the text they are about to read (Willingham, D, 2009). Our journey starts with building background knowledge; moving on to the development of vocabulary and incorporates the teaching of the reading domains as outlined in the national curriculum.

How can you help your child at home?

EYFS and Key Stage 1

Join your local library and visit regularly
Ask your child what they would like to read, turn off all distractions, sit close together, look at the pictures, ask questions and have fun!
Talk about what you see around you, read road signs, cereal boxes etc
Use the resources available on the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised website: https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk
Access the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised eBook library
Use the resources on the Oxford Owl website: https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk

Key Stage 2

Join your local library and visit regularly
Encourage your child to carry a book with them wherever you go (this is something you can do too!)
Have a family bookshelf of your family favourites
Keep reading together – your child will love sharing stories with you, whatever their age!
Buy a newspaper and encourage your child to read suitable articles