Reading

Reading

Intent

Reading is a top priority and is a key driver within our curriculum; from EYFS through to Y6. We are ambitious in our expectations for all children. We follow the National Curriculum and aim to build on and further enhance this.

It is our intention to ensure that by the end of their primary education, all children can read fluently and with confidence in any subject.

We intend all children to leave St.Mary’s with a rich vocabulary that provides them with the ability to play and manipulate language, recognising the nuance of meaning and how language can be used for a range of purposes. We want children to have the confidence to be able to communicate effectively in a variety of situations’ both now and in the future.

We want children to appreciate a rich and varied language developed through exposure to diverse text with global perspectives.

We therefore intend to encourage all children to read widely across both fiction and non-fiction to develop:

• knowledge of themselves and the world in which they live;

• to establish an appreciation and love of reading;

• to gain knowledge across the curriculum;

• and develop their comprehension skills.

If you would like to find out more about our Reading Intent, including by Key Stage, please access our Reading Intent Implementation and Impact statement here.

Reading scheme

At St Mary's we use the Collins Reading Materials in Key Stage 2, supplemented by other publishers.  In Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 we use Oxford Reading Tree.  These were purchased by the PTA.  You can find out more about the the Collins Big Cat scheme by clicking here and the Oxford Reading Tree materials by clicking here.

Reading Blog 

What’s going well in our reading:

• Reading has become a huge focus for is in all subjects and all year groups. Children understand that reading is key to understanding and acquiring new knowledge.

• Staff read to their class every day, in order to stimulate a love for reading.

• Staff model their own love for reading, in order to become reading role models.

• Year 6 children organise the library and advise younger children on which books they may like.

• Year 6 have also started reading with younger children in their lunch time in order to support their learning.

• Author visits in the past have been hugely successful.

• Children have written to author and have sent in copies of their own written work, based on the author’s book. We have had responses from several authors, both on social media and in written form. This really generates a reading buzz. 

• Year 3 introduced the book exchange idea where they bring in a book once they have read it and exchange it with another brought in by somebody else.

• Fluency in reading has been placed as one of our most important objectives this year. All classes have been practising ways to improve fluency in reading.

When we talked to children about their reading, see below for what they had to say..........

Reading with your child

One of the greatest gifts that you can give to your child is a love of reading.  Research has shown that one of the biggest indicators of success in a child's life is whether or not they have books in the home.  As a parent, try to focus on making reading fun and enjoyable rather than getting bogged down in trying to teach nitty gritty skills.  There are many, many different things that you can do.  Here are just a few:

• Let your child see you reading - This can be a newspaper, magazine, anything you like.  This is a powerful message to send to your child so go on, put your feet up for 10 minutes and have a read.

• Read something with your child - It doesn't need to be a book.  The secret is to find something that your child is desperate to read - comics, magazines, football programmes, newspapers, internet pages, texts, e-mails, catalogues etc.  If you are reading books together you could ask your child's school what Book Band your child is reading at (this will be a colour) and choose a book from this band.  However, never underestimate the power of a book that a child really, really wants to read, even if it is too hard for them.  If they are very keen to read a particular tricky book then go for it and just help them out when they need it.

• Talk about what they are reading - Talk before you start.  Talk whilst you are reading.  Talk after you have finished.  You can still talk about what your child is reading even if they don't want to actually read with you any more.

• Praise your child - Studies show that children who are given specific support with their reading make much greater progress if they are given lots of praise than if they are given the support alone.  It can be tough to think up lots of new ways to praise your child.  It can be also be hard to stay positive if you are particularly worried about your child's reading skills.  Try to praise your child's accuracy, understanding and attitude.  If you are stuck for ideas have a look at these Ways to Praise (phonics play).