Curriculum Lead: Caroline Hughes
Being an Author Reader
Intent:
Reading is at the heart of everything we do at BLC. It is our intent that all children will learn to read fluently and competently. Children will be able to decode, comprehend, discuss and analyse a range of texts. Alongside this, we aim to develop a child’s love and inspire passion for lifelong reading.
Implementation:
Our first priority is teaching children to read. This is done using the Read Write Inc program (RWI) which provides a strong start to our children from their first day in Reception.
As children learn to decode, they build on their knowledge by developing their comprehension through guided reading sessions, which take place weekly in every EYFS and KS1 classroom.
In Key Stage 2, reading comprehension skills are taught through our Think Out Loud sessions.
In both these cases, reading is a separately timetabled subject within our curriculum.
To supplement our teaching of reading curriculum, we develop children’s reading for pleasure in a number of ways. Daily Read, timetabled in every classroom from Reception to Year 6, ensures children are read to by an adult on a daily basis. It allows them to read a book they might not otherwise be able to read independently (both fiction and non-fiction) and develops their stamina. At the same time, from Year 4 onwards, children use the Accelerated Reader program to help them develop their independence and choose books that are within the appropriate level for their reading ability. Our library and book corners provide further titles, at appropriate levels, for children to read at home, which is tracked using our reading diaries. The partnership between home and school is valued to support children’s development and enjoyment.
For children who need more support, we have extensive resources and personalised interventions to accelerate progress and close gaps. Additionally, where children are excelling in reading, we provide opportunities to extend and challenge. When children join part-way through the academic year, they are quickly assessed in phonics to ensure that teaching meets their needs.
Impact:
- Children will end each year meeting or exceeding national expectations for reading.
- Children will be empowered to talk confidently about a range of texts from across their primary years, being able to compare and contrast.
- Children will be able to:
- talk actively about a book,
- use background knowledge to understand and infer meaning,
- break down meaning whilst making links.
- Children will be able to confidently read out loud, to a variety of audiences.
- Children will have had opportunities to enjoy a range of texts.
Author Visit – Nicola Davies – Website Link
Reading
In KS1, children take home books linked to their RWI level – either black-and-white copies, or Book Bag Books – until they know all their Set 3 sounds (from roughly Pink level and above). At this point, children are helped to choose books that are linked to their book band from the wide selection available in the school. In this way, the children are given access to a suitably wide range of literature, but always linked to what we know they are able to read.
In KS2, children who are ‘free readers’ choose books from their book corners or the school library to take home and read independently. In Y3, we continue to use book bands to ensure accessibility of the text. In Y4 upwards, Accelerated Reader tests assign children to a particular reading zone, from which they choose their titles.
Book Corners
Book corners are well-organised, attractive and generally places where children would like to be! These spaces are:
- Inviting and stimulating places to learn and read;
- Use soft fabrics, cushions and plants to ‘soften’ the area and make it more inviting;
- Use key questions and sentence stems to help children think about what they are reading;
- Include interactive author focus displays, perhaps linked to the core writing book or Daily Read title, which enhance the learning experience and guides children to other titles.
Reading Buddies
Some of our responsible secondary pupils have been working with our Year 3 children as Reading Buddies. It’s been such a successful project, and the year 3 children look forward to it every week.
World Book Day
Every year, as a school, we celebrate World Book Day. World Book Day is a charity event held annually in the United Kingdom and Ireland on the first Thursday in March. During the day, the children across primary participate in book related tasks and can come to school dressed as their favourite book character (the staff enjoy this too!!). We also have the opportunity to have a book fair visit for the week, where the children can use their £1 voucher to purchase a book.
English Curriculum Documents
Read Write Inc – Documents Links
- RWI – Fred Talk Parent Meeting 2023
- RWI – Phonics Screen Check FAQ 2024
- RWI – Letter for Parents
- RWI – Set 1 Sounds Parent Meeting 2023
- RWI – Set 2 and 3 Sounds Parent Meeting 2023
- RWI – Parent FAQs
- RWI – BLC FAQs 2024
- RWI – Listening to Your Child Read Parent Meeting 2023
- RWI – Reading Stores to Your Child Parent Meeting 2023
- RWI – Ten Top Tips