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English Reading

Subject Leader: Mrs H Taylor - taylorh@saintgeogrescofe.kent.sch.uk

English has a fundamentally important place in society. The skills of language are essential to enable an individual to fully participate in the world in which they live and express their ideas and emotions. A high standard of education in English will teach pupils to speak, read and write fluently in order to communicate with others and for others to communicate with them. Reading gives pupils the chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and socially. It allows children to acquire new knowledge and plays a key role in their development.

Intent

At Saint George’s Primary Phase, we believe that a quality English curriculum should develop children’s love of reading, enabling our pupils to access all areas of the curriculum and the wider world. We aim to inspire our pupils with rich exposure to texts, and opportunities to read widely for pleasure. 

We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge base in English, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum. We believe that a secure basis in literacy skills is crucial and supports learning across all areas of the curriculum. Literacy skills will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as members of society.

Implementation

students reading at saint georges library

Our intention to ensure that all children develop a love of reading is embedded across our English lessons as well as the wider curriculum. Our English curriculum is organised to ensure that it provides many purposeful opportunities for reading. The school follows the Quigley Essentials Curriculum, which ensures teachers are empowered to plan creatively with flexibility around timetabling. Cross-curricular links with concurrent topic work are woven into the programme of study. Our curriculum closely follows the aims of the National Curriculum for English 2014.

The National Curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • read easily, fluently, and with a good understanding
  • develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
  • acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar, and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading
  • appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage

In addition to daily English lessons, children excel in reading through high-quality phonics teaching through the ‘Little Wandle’ programme and daily opportunities for storytelling. We use a wide variety of quality texts and resources to motivate and inspire our children. We also provide a wealth of enrichment opportunities, including, World Book Day, Library Club, and shared reading opportunities across the Primary Phase, as well as competitions throughout the year.

Impact

As a result, we have a community of enthusiastic readers who enjoy showcasing their developing literacy knowledge and skills. They are confident to take risks in their reading and love to discuss and share their ideas. This is evident when speaking to our children, looking in their books and around our school.

Accelerated Reader

accelerated reader is covered at saint georges school gravesend

At Saint George’s Primary Phase, the children from Year Two upwards follow Accelerated Reader. Class teachers will decide when it is appropriate for the children to start using Accelerated Reader. A child needs to have some fluency in their reading as this programme does not help children learn to read – it consolidates their learning and promotes reading comprehension rather than decoding and word reading skills.

Accelerated Reader is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice. Children, with the support of their class teacher, pick a book at their own level and read it at their own pace. When finished, the children take a short quiz on the computer or IPAD. (Passing the quiz is an indication that the child understood what was read.) Accelerated Reader gives children and teachers feedback based on the quiz results, which the teacher then uses to help the children set goals and direct ongoing reading practice. Children using Accelerated Reader choose their own books to read within their reading level, rather than having one assigned to them. This makes reading a much more enjoyable experience as they can choose books that are interesting to them. Teachers help the children choose books at an appropriate readability level that are challenging without being frustrating, ensuring that the children can pass the quiz and experience success. If a child does not do well on the quiz, the teacher may help them choose another book that is more appropriate or ask more probing questions as they read, and before they take their next quiz. In most cases, children really enjoy taking the quizzes. Since they’re reading books at their reading and interest levels, they are likely to be successful. This is satisfying for most children. Best of all, they learn and grow at their own pace.

 

English Reading at Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In the Early Years Foundation Stage and early Key Stage 1, children largely follow the ‘Little Wandle’ reading scheme books, to support their learning of systematic, synthetic phonics. These books may also be supplemented by books from either Super Phonics or Dandelion Readers. As pupils continue to progress in reading, they choose from a wider range of books which are within a colour-banded scheme. Reading takes place throughout the school day and may be as part of a guided reading group or individually. We actively encourage the children to read every day at home and promote the importance of reading throughout the school. We use Book Week and other country-wide events to develop children’s love of books and reading for enjoyment. Learning outcomes linked to reading are taught within English lessons and in other areas of the curriculum, where appropriate. During this time children are taught using whole class texts. Teachers read regularly to their class to model the reading process and teach skills such as inference and deduction, as well as grammatical and punctuation conventions. Poetry and play reading is taught with an awareness of final performance, and this is taught during our weekly drama lessons. Analysis and comprehension activities involving “real” texts are used to develop skills in these areas.

For more recommended reading, please visit the EYFS Class page 

To read our Phonics and Early Reading Policy, please visit the policy page.

English Reading at Key Stage 1 (KS1)

In the Early Years Foundation Stage and early Key Stage 1, children largely follow the ‘Little Wandle’ reading scheme books, to support their learning of systematic, synthetic phonics. These books may also be supplemented by books from either Super Phonics or Dandelion Readers. As pupils continue to progress in reading, they choose from a wider range of books which are within a colour-banded scheme. Reading takes place throughout the school day and may be as part of a guided reading group or individually. We actively encourage the children to read every day at home and promote the importance of reading throughout the school. We use Book Week and other country-wide events to develop children’s love of books and reading for enjoyment. Learning outcomes linked to reading are taught within English lessons and in other areas of the curriculum, where appropriate. During this time children are taught using whole class texts. Teachers read regularly to their class to model the reading process and teach skills such as inference and deduction, as well as grammatical and punctuation conventions. Poetry and play reading is taught with an awareness of final performance, and this is taught during our weekly drama lessons. Analysis and comprehension activities involving “real” texts are used to develop skills in these areas.

English Reading at Key Stage 2 (KS2)

Reading takes place throughout the school day and may be as part of a guided reading group or individually. We actively encourage the children to read every day at home and promote the importance of reading throughout the school. We use Book Week and other country-wide events to develop children’s love of books and reading for enjoyment. 

Learning outcomes linked to reading are taught within English lessons and in other areas of the curriculum, where appropriate.  During this time children are taught using whole class texts. Teachers read regularly to their class to model the reading process and teach skills such as inference and deduction, as well as grammatical and punctuation conventions. Poetry and play reading are taught with an awareness of final performance, and this is taught during our weekly drama lessons. Analysis and comprehension activities involving “real” texts are used to develop skills in these areas. 

English Progression

At Saint George's Primary Phase, we develop our pupil’s English through essential skills; growing their depth of knowledge year-on-year. Through the use of Reading Levels, we are able to monitor their progress and allocate extra support and adaptations to the curriculum for pupils to maintain strong confidence in reading. When progressing, young readers will, at a certain stage, successfully make the leap into their first chapter of books. To help pupils to pick a selection of short, illustrated chapter books that are perfect for children launching into independent reading, please click here.

 

SEND Information

Teachers adapt activities for accessibility for SEND groups and challenge more able and confident readers. Additional reading support is available for vulnerable children.

Children in Reception and Year 1 who are receiving additional phonics ‘Keep-up sessions’ read their reading practice book to an adult daily, this ensures consistency and pace of progress.

Extra Resources