Reading

The Reading Curriculum at Benwick Primary School

Intent

At Benwick 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. Through reading, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually.

We believe reading opens up a new world for children and gives them the opportunity to explore new ideas, visit new places, meet new characters and develop a better understanding of other cultures. Building up the childrens’ vocabulary gives them the word power they need to become successful speakers and writers as well as confident readers. Reading is a key life skill and we strive to embed a culture of reading into the core of what we do, providing opportunities for children to read both independently and aloud, as well as allowing them the chance to discuss and recommend books they have read, to their peers.

We want pupils to develop a love of reading, have a good knowledge of a range of authors and be able to understand more about the world in which they live through the knowledge they gain from texts. By the end of their time at primary school, we believe all children should be able to read fluently, and with confidence, in any subject in their forthcoming secondary education.

Implementation

In Key Stage 1 children are taught Phonics from Reception to Year 2, to learn their sounds and to develop skills of blending and segmenting. Children are taught using Read, Write, Inc which was introduced to Key Stage 1 and some children in Key Stage 2 in September 2018. Staff training is ongoing and the intention is to continue with the Read Write Inc programme into Key Stage 2 with their Literacy and Language scheme and Spelling scheme.

In Key Stage 1 children’s reading books are matched to the sounds they have been learning and additional home reading books are sent home to consolidate prior learning. Children are encouraged to read at home on a daily basis and are given a reading diary, in which parents and teachers can comment on their reading of a particular book.

During year 2 the children may reach a point (when they have a reading age of approximately 6 and a half) when they may start to use Accelerated Reader. The children complete an online multiple choice Star Test which provides them with a book level and a target for the half term. The children can then choose from a range of fiction books within their level. When they have finished reading the book they go back online and undertake a Reading Quiz, based on their comprehension. They receive points towards their target if they respond correctly to the majority of the questions. The children use Accelerated Reader throughout Key Stage 2.

In addition all year groups are tested in reading comprehension at the end of each term using the PIRA reading test from Rising Stars. This provided staff with areas for development, standardised scores and a reading age for each child.

We have a school library which is run as a lending library by the Swans class and a Teaching Assistant during breaks and lunch times. The books in the library are also used for individual reading or class work.

Each class teacher uses guided reading each week to teach reading skills such as inference, comprehension and use of language. The teacher plans the guided reading to meet the needs of the group, based on the PIRA tests and teacher knowledge. Guided reading records form part of the teacher assessment of reading.