English - Reading

Reading Curriculum

Intent

At Netherton CE Primary School, our curriculum is shaped by our school vision which aims to enable all children, regardless of background, ability or additional needs, to flourish to become the very best version of themselves they can possibly be. To achieve this, we intend for all of our children to become enthusiastic and independent readers, who are nurtured to foster a love of reading that becomes lifelong. Our children will be exposed to the richness of our language so that they can deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Implementation

We teach the National Curriculum, through clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced to maximise learning for all children. In Foundation and KS1, there is a greater emphasis on phonics; this is then applied throughout the rest of the school to consolidate what has been learnt. Throughout the school, children are taught the skills to decode words along with inference and deduction skills in order to be able to read fluently and with understanding. Children have the opportunity to revisit previous learning, practise and apply new skills in structured but engaging ways.

Children are exposed to a mixture of different reading opportunities including shared, guided and individual. In our school, our reading curriculum links closely with our writing curriculum; we use quality texts that enthuse and engage our children. Planned teaching sequences closely linked to these texts ensure the children have opportunities for reading, discussion and drama lessons that will further enhance their understanding of language. Reading lessons expose our children to the richness of a wide variety of quality texts that challenge, provoke thinking and develop their questioning skills.

We encourage reading for pleasure with children having a choice of challenging and enriching texts as well as building in time for children to read independently and as part of a whole class. All children have many opportunities to read a variety of materials in school and have access to a school library. Reading takes place across the wider curriculum, enabling children to practise their skills and to make connections to other subjects and the wider world.

Impact

Regardless of background, ability or additional needs, by the time children leave Netherton CE Primary School, they will be enthusiastic and motivated readers who are confident and enjoy reading a wide variety of genres and text types. Children have the skills to decode words and have a greater understanding of a wide range of vocabulary. This enables them to read with fluency and understanding and to think deeper and pose questions that further their curiosity and lifelong learning. Children are inspired by literature which enables them to read for pleasure as they continue onwards on their school journey and into adulthood.

Individual Reading Books 

For children in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, we use the Engage Literacy as a home reading scheme. This is a book banded scheme from Pink to Ruby, but also split further into reading recovery levels to refine each step and help readers progress through the bands.  

The use of fresh, contemporary illustrations and photographs stimulate imagination across a variety of subjects to capture all interests. Each fiction title is paired with a non-fiction title with a common vocabulary, which reinforces unfamiliar words and gives an appealing range of different titles at each level. The wide range of subjects and styles takes away that repetitive scheme feel and offers an exciting array of books that provides a perfectly structured reading programme. 

In each band there are thematically linked fiction and non-fiction books to help develop a love for both factual reads and stories. Each book is precisely levelled to ensure progression and help children learn to read. This primary school reading scheme introduces new vocabulary and reinforces them throughout the levels and a sense of continuity is created through the use of well-loved characters.