Alresford Primary School

Reading

Meet our Reading co-ordinator, Mrs Wright.

Reading at Alresford Primary School

Reading is key to a child's learning; it underpins learning at every level.  At Alresford Primary School, we believe that reading is a valuable and rewarding experience and that the importance of laying a firm foundation in this crucial area will allow children to access all areas of the curriculum successfully. We believe that success in reading opens doors to a world of knowledge.  Reading helps children understand and appreciate the world around them, develop a broader vocabulary, it stimulates creativity and imagination and also helps children to have an increased understanding of other cultures.   

We aim to inspire our children to become confident and enthusiastic readers and to acquire a love of books.

All classrooms have an inviting book corner and books displays with carefully selected age-appropriate books to inspire, engage and challenge the children's reading.  

In EYFS and KS1, children are taught the essential skills for reading (and writing) through daily phonics sessions and activities.  

Children also have regular 1to1 reading sessions with an adult to support them with practising and applying their phonics knowledge.  In these reading sessions they read a 'practise book' which is selected to match their phonic ability.  These phonics skills are taught alongside visual, contextual and grammatical knowledge to ensure the children are becoming well-rounded readers. High-quality phonics teaching is essential, but we also recognise the importance of teaching these other skills to ensure children become well-rounded readers. The importance of developing fluency is recognised and children will re-read books to encourage this.  Children are also encouraged to read regularly at home to help develop this fluency.

In EYFS, weekly planning is regularly linked to stories and stories are read daily in class. The ‘Write Stuff’ pedagogy we follow in our writing curriculum at Alresford Primary, is linked to both communication and language and literacy (word reading, comprehension and writing) objectives in EYFS.  Reading skills are continually modelled and developed across the curriculum.  Continuous provision and enhancements in EYFS ensure children are regularly practising their reading skills whilst also being appropriately challenged. This approach fosters a love of reading and develops comprehension skills at an early age.

In KS1, discussion, modelling and comprehension skills are also taught through the whole class reading book daily. This is through using the VIPERS: vocabulary, inference, prediction, explanation, retrieval, summarise. These skills are a child-friendly form of the key skills of reading, directly linked to the National Curriculum.

In KS2, children take part in a daily whole class reading session. These daily lessons will teach the explicit skills of reading and this is supported by using 'VIPERS' (mentioned above).  Texts and class reading books are carefully considered to ensure variety, challenge and enjoyment. 

When choosing their own book to read, children are able to select from the well-stocked libraries in their classroom.  

In addition to daily reading lessons, in both KS1 and KS2, reading objectives are also often linked to the 'Write Stuff' lessons. Reading skills are continually modelled and children are given the opportunity to practise and apply their reading skills across the curriculum through a wide variety of subjects.

By the end of KS2, we aspire for our children to be fluent and confident readers, who are able to use their reading skills across the curriculum and also who can read a range of texts for enjoyment.

Reading at home

Research has shown ’20 minutes a day’ reading at home has a significant impact on a child’s attainment.  Children are asked to read at home for 80 minutes a week.  We recognise 80 minutes reading looks different depending on the age of the child and therefore we encourage a mixture of reading independently, having someone listen to them read and listening to someone read to them.

Reading Events
‘World Book Day’ and other events take place throughout the year to promote a love and the value of reading. Children take place in a wide range of fun and memorable activities during these events.