Reading
How we teach reading
At our school, reading is taught through a structured, progressive approach that builds confident readers and creative thinkers.
Phonics to fluency
After pupils have mastered essential phonics, we transition to a fluency and skills‑building model.
Reading progress is organised into two‑week blocks that balance practice with growing comprehension.
What pupils read
Fiction, non‑fiction and poetry are studied in focused blocks, with emphasis on developing reading skills such as inference, retrieval, language analysis, sequencing and summarising.
We use engaging class novels as a stimulus, alongside high‑quality non‑fiction linked to the wider curriculum.
Pupils also encounter fairy tales, myths and legends, picture books and song lyrics to broaden their experiences and language that supports understanding.
Skills we develop
Inference: reading between the lines to understand characters, themes and ideas.
Retrieval: locating and understanding key details from the text.
Language: exploring word choices, sentence structure and author craft.
Sequencing: understanding how events unfold and connect.
Summarising: expressing the main ideas clearly and concisely.
Reading lessons across the school
Every reading lesson begins with a fluency starter. Methods include echo reading and paired choral reading to build speed and confidence.
We address unfamiliar vocabulary explicitly, ensuring pupils can read with accuracy and understand what they read.
Teachers model strategies, provide guided practice, and give independent tasks that match each pupil’s current level.
Progress and personalisation
Our approach is carefully scaffolded to meet the needs of all learners, from those building foundational skills to confident readers ready for more complex texts.
Regular assessment informs small‑group or targeted support, ensuring every pupil makes steady progress.
Parental involvement
We love to involve families in reading at home. We recently moved away from paper reading records to an online record - Boom Reader.
