Reading including phonics
Shine your light as a reader
At St James’s CE Primary School, we believe that reading is at the heart of all learning. It is the foundation on which children build their understanding of every subject, enabling them to access the wider curriculum with confidence and independence. Becoming a fluent, secure reader is a vital step in a child’s educational journey and is essential in nurturing curious, reflective and resilient lifelong learners. Our reading curriculum is designed to inspire a love of reading from the very beginning. In the early years, children develop firm foundations in phonics, giving them the essential skills to decode words and begin their reading journey with success. As children move through the school, they encounter a rich and diverse range of engaging, high-quality texts chosen to broaden their knowledge, deepen their thinking and spark their imaginations. We are committed to ensuring that all pupils become confident, skilled readers who not only master the technical skills of reading, but also develop a lifelong passion for books, stories and learning.
Key documents:
English National Curriculum - click here
English Long Term plan - click here
Phonics Long Term plan - click here
Reading Rationale - click here
Phonics
The direct teaching of reading and spelling starts with Phonics. At St James’s C.E. Primary School, we follow Letters and Sounds– Little Wandle. Children in EYFS, year 1 and year 2 have daily phonics sessions which may be whole class based. Children participate in speaking, listening and spelling activities that are matched to their developing needs. The practitioners draw upon observations and continuous assessment to ensure children are stretched and challenged and to identify any pupils who may require additional support. Children work through 6 detailed phases, learning and developing their phonics sounds and knowledge. Phonics lessons follow a set format and are well paced to ensure that children are secure in their acquisition. Click here to visit our phonics page.
Reading
At St James’s C.E. Primary School, reading is at the core of all that we do and we value the many benefits that reading provides. We believe that it is key for academic success and it plays a big part across our Curriculum on a daily basis. We promote a reading culture that inspires children to love reading, makes them want to read and helps them to develop into ardent, avid readers and lifelong learners.
All children visit the library weekly either to select a book or to work on library and reading skills with their class teacher. Sessions will include input about different authors, discussing and listening to stories, independent research skills and supporting children to select a book to take home to share with their families.
All children will be provided with a home reading book appropriate to their level of reading and/ or phonics. Pupils also borrow an additional reading for pleasure book that they can share with their family and friends. Children record their reading in reading journals which are monitored and celebrated weekly by school staff.
Reading is taught following a weekly teaching cycle:
Monday: Shared Reading
Teachers model comprehension monitoring, fluency, visualisation.
Activation of prior knowledge
Tuesday: Vocabulary boost
Using STAR (select, teach, activate and review) techniques children learn and use new vocabulary.
Wednesday: Model and Practise
Teachers model a comprehension skill or strategy. Pupils practise that skill or strategy. Pupils conclude the session by practising/ answering mixed skill/strategy questions.
Thursday: Application of comprehension skills
Independent application of comprehension in written form or pupils meet in groups to discuss comprehension questions based on books they have read independently in advance.
Friday: Reading for pleasure
Children use the skills acquired to read independently. Children will regularly visit the book corner or library during this session. Opportunities for children to share and recommed books to peers ans well as listen to recommendations from the teacher.
As well as teaching reading for instruction, we are keen to establish a love of reading in our pupils. Reading for pleasure is vital for children to become lifelong readers who engage and respond to texts. Our aim is to work with families to ensure that their children develop confident and motivated reading habits. Reading areas are established in classrooms. Pupils will see adults modelling social reading, reading aloud and informal conversations about books that we enjoy. Pupils of all ages benefit from being read to by adults and enjoy sharing books and stories.
Reading across the curriculum is vitally important to children’s application of reading and understanding of reading for purpose. Quality texts are used throughout the curriculum as a source of knowledge and a stimulus for learning.
Please see our Reading Policy for greater detail on how reading is encouraged and taught at our school. Click here to visit our policies website page.
Book Experiences
English at St James’s
At St James’s CE Primary School, our English curriculum is driven by high quality texts. These act as the stimulus for writing and form aspirational models for the children to explore. Our writing spine has been chosen to expose children to text types that could pose a barrier if they were exploring these independently.
Our chosen texts fall into the following categories:
Resistant texts – These are texts written to encourage the reader to make sense of them by seeking meaning around nuances, hints, uncertainties and clues.
Non-Linear texts – These are texts with plots and storylines that do not flow chronologically. They may include flashbacks (or flash forwards) as well as storytelling from a range of perspectives.
Figurative texts – These are texts with morals and lessons to be learned. They could include characters learning life lessons or stories which take the reader on a moral journey.
Narratively complex texts – These can be stories with multiple narrators, narrators who have an unusual perspective on events or even narrators who are animal rather than human!
Archaic texts – These are classic stories: books that have stood the test of time.
Through exploring these tricky text types, children gain skills and experience to enable them to become life-long readers and writers but just as importantly, these are books that are full of magic, mystery and fun!
Our English curriculum also includes high quality poetry, non-fiction texts and enrichment experiences to ensure every child finds their enthusiasm and spark for reading and writing.
