Reading and phonics
Our Approach to Reading
Reading is a key focus of our school. We want every child to develop the skills, confidence and enjoyment they need to become a successful reader. Through regular opportunities to read, talk about books and share ideas, children are encouraged to develop a lifelong love of reading.
Learning to Read
Children follow the Read, Write, Inc. scheme, which provides a structured approach to learning phonics and developing early reading skills. Children are taught the sounds needed to read words, blend sounds together and apply their knowledge when reading books and writing.
As children become more fluent readers, Accelerated Reader is used to match books to their capabilities. This helps children choose books that offer the right level of challenge while supporting their growing independence. Children can explore a range of texts, discover authors and genres, and develop their personal reading preferences.
Developing Fluency and Comprehension
Reading and comprehension are taught using the Chris Such approach of fluency, extended reading and closed reading. These three elements help children to build a secure understanding of what they read.
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Fluency supports accurate, expressive and confident reading.
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Extended reading gives children opportunities to read longer passages and engage with a text over time.
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Closed reading encourages children to look closely at language, meaning, structure and the choices made by the author.
Through this approach, children learn not only to read the words on the page, but also to think deeply, make connections, discuss their views and respond thoughtfully to a wide range of texts.
