Reading
Introduction
Our aim at Blakehill is to make sure that all children are able to read fluently by the end of Key Stage 1 and that ALL of our children foster a love for life-long reading.
We do this by having a systematic, carefully planned and tightly structured approach to the teaching of phonics from EYFS to the beginning of Year 2. From Year 2 onwards, phonics is used and referred to as foundational knowledge for reading and writing through to Year 6.
Intent
At Blakehill, we want all pupils to acquire a love and enjoyment for reading. We value reading as a key life skill, and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers. We believe reading is key for academic success and to embed this we take a holistic approach. We encourage all pupils to read widely across both fiction and non-fiction to develop their knowledge of themselves and the world in which they live, to gain knowledge across the curriculum and to develop their comprehension skills. We are passionate about ensuring that, by the end of their primary education, all pupils at Blakehill are able to read fluently, and with confidence, in any subject in their forthcoming secondary education.
“The more that you read, the more things that you know. The more that you learn the more places you’ll go.” – Dr Seuss
Implementation
At Blakehill, we promote our love and passion for reading across school. Each classroom has an inviting and dedicated reading area where children enjoy a range of age-appropriate books and genres. Reading is given priority across school and is fundamental in providing the foundations for future learning. Books are carefully selected for children to enjoy for a variety of purposes.
Lessons focus on fluency, prosody and comprehension from engaging texts so that children have repeated exposure so that all children can access and enjoy reading.
Phonics
At Blakehill we use the Little Wandle scheme to deliver Early Reading sessions from Reception through to the beginning of Year 2. From then on any children who need further support developing early reading skills access Little Wandle Rapid Catch-Up sessions.
Key Stage 2
As pupils progress in Key Stage Two, the foundations created for reading in Reception and Key Stage One are built upon to develop fluency, enjoyment and understanding of what they have read. Throughout KS2, our children are given opportunities to discuss, question and explore texts.
Impact
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.
Pupil outcomes at the end of KS2 continue to be above national standards for pupils achieving the expected standard and at greater depth of the standard in Reading.