Reading Curriculum

‘Through reading, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, plays a key role in such development. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. All the skills of language are essential to participating fully as a member of society; pupils who do not learn read fluently and confidently are effectively disenfranchised.’ National Curriculum

 

Intent

The national curriculum for reading aims to ensure that all pupils

• Read easily, fluently and with 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
• Use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas

 

At St Clare’s Catholic Primary School we believe that all pupils should have the opportunity to be fluent, confident readers who are able to successfully comprehend and understand a wide range of texts. We encourage pupils to be good readers through having both language comprehension and word reading skills. In addition, pupils develop a love of reading, have knowledge of a range of authors and are able to understand more about the world in which they live.

Reading for pleasure is an important step in becoming fluent and confident readers. At St Clare’s Primary School we aim to install a lifelong love of reading by providing many opportunities to enjoy and share books with others. Each classroom has an established reading area with a variety of poetry, traditional, modern and non-fiction books. Teachers use the Educational Library service to loan books that the pupils have requested and books linked to their termly topics. The pupils are encouraged to take time in the day to read for pleasure. At the end of each day every class has a story time where pupils listen to their class novel. The pupils look forward to their class story times which help to transport them to different worlds.

We take pride in having a language rich environment which enables pupils to access new and challenging vocabulary on a daily basis. The vocabulary displayed is linked to all areas of the curriculum so that pupils can refer to and use in their daily lessons. Our well-resourced library has a wide range of texts to appeal to all ages and interests.  Pupils are encouraged to make recommendations for authors that they would like to read as we have many author collections. We also are fortunate to have links with a local library where many of our pupils are members and are encouraged to borrow books. Each term every class attends the library on a school visit where the pupils take part in different activities with the librarians.

We understand the importance of parents and carers in supporting their children to develop both word reading and comprehension skills, and so we want to encourage a home-school partnership which enables parents and carers to understand how to enhance the skills being taught in school. The expectation is that our pupils read at least three times a week at home which is recorded in their reading record. At St Clare’s Catholic Primary School our intention is that pupils receive a wide range of happy and rich memories, formed through interesting and exciting experiences as reading is a fundamental to many aspects of life.

 

Implementation

Through the delivery of our reading curriculum we ensure a consistent teaching and learning of early reading and phonics in EYFS and KS1, so that pupils are able to read with increased speed and fluency and access the wider curriculum. We follow the Read Write Inc scheme and pupils are provided with books that match and support their phonics development and ability. We teach phonics daily in small group lessons, so that all children have access to teaching which provides an appropriate challenge in relation to age related expectations. At St Clare’s Catholic Primary School pupils who are not working at the age related expected standard for phonics have additional daily intervention sessions working through the speed sounds either individually or in small group.

During the Summer term in Year 1, pupils undertake a Phonics Screening Test which assesses their ability to apply what they have learnt. Pupils who do not pass their Phonics Screening Test continue to have intervention to support the acquisition of these key skills and are retested in the Autumn term of Year 2.

Some pupils in Year 2 and the whole of KS2 have guided reading sessions several times a week which follow The Pathways to Read scheme. Each grouped reading session follows four parts - prediction, strategy check, key questions and discussing understanding. Through the use of high quality texts pupils are encouraged to develop their vocabulary, consider a range of issues and deeper meanings in texts, develop comprehension skills and enjoyment of books. At St Clare’s Catholic Primary School pupils who are not working at the age related expected standard for reading have additional daily reads with an adult. Reading skills are continually developed through the wider curriculum.

All pupils have opportunities to develop their reading skills daily, and are encouraged to read at home. We provide a text rich environment, in order to encourage a positive culture of reading throughout all classes and promote pupils’ enjoyment of reading. Through high quality teaching and learning experiences we will develop pupil’s skills and competence.

 

Impact

Pupil voice highlighted a positive attitude towards reading and pupils understand how they can gain support in reading, resulting in increased confidence of children.

At St Clare’s Catholic Primary School pupils will make at least good progress from their starting points. Pupils will develop a life-long enjoyment of reading and books. Through the progress made in reading, they will be able to access all areas of the curriculum.

In Year 6, the majority of pupils will leave being able to read with accuracy, fluency and understanding, ready to access the secondary school curriculum.