Reading

Intent 

At Wyburns, we value reading extremely highly, as it is a key life skill. We are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers. We believe reading is key for academic success and so, to ensure we have a holistic approach to the teaching of reading, we implement a variety of approaches.

By the time children leave Wyburns 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 

• Daily phonic lessons throughout Acorns and  Key Stage one. Children have daily phonics class sessions as well as in small groups, where they participate in speaking, listening and spelling activities that are matched to their developing needs. The teachers draw upon observations and continuous assessment to ensure children are stretched and challenged and to identify children who may need additional support. Children work through the different phases, learning and developing their phonics sounds and knowledge. 
• Using exciting and engaging books as a stimulus for writing in Acorns and Key Stage one and high quality model texts/books in Key Stage two to enhance their writing.
• Whole class reading at specific times across the week in Key Stage one to develop key Reading comprehension skills as laid out in our reading policy (VIPERS)
• Children take part in whole class reading lessons daily in Key Stage Two where the specific reading skills are explicitly taught.
• We are very lucky to have a wide range of reading books in our school. All children from Acorns to Year 6 choose a reading book to take home and they will have opportunities to change these regularly. Our library has been revamped this year following a hugely successful sponsored read.
• 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. 

• Children are read to daily by their class teacher and across a range of subjects. This is a book that is chosen with the children and is age appropriate, to challenge vocabulary and comprehension skills.
• 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 have the opportunity to read with their peers and listen to their peers read throughout the week.
• A very well resourced library with a range of exciting fiction and non-fiction books that the children are encouraged to visit both in and out of class. We have links with the local library service which ensures books are updated and linked to topics the children are being immersed in.
• Each child will be listened to regularly by an adult.
• 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.
• We ensure that children are being recognised as enthusiastic readers through certificates in our Brilliance assembly every Friday and other such awards like Reading Bingo where they can be awarded bronze, silver and gold reading badges.
• World book days, Author visits, Enrichment days/weeks are also embedded into the curriculum for all of the children to enjoy
• Teachers must assess children every term using our internal assessment tool (in Years 1-6) and against the Reading Early Learning Goal (in EYFS). These regular assessments inform planning and allow teachers to identify any gaps in learning. 
• Teachers also complete regular phonic assessments and plot children onto a tracking grid, which ensures children are grouped appropriately in phonics. 
• We have the additional resource- accelerated reader and myon- to further encourage reading at home. The children are encouraged to complete the quizzes at school to further enhance their comprehension skills.

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.