Intent

Implementation

Early reading and phonics

To ensure that children develop a love for reading, they need to feel that they can read.  Central to our teaching of early reading skills is the teaching of systematic phonics using ‘Sounds Write’, which provides a structured and systematic approach to teaching reading. Sounds Write sessions are taught whole class, and each day to all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Children who are struggling to keep up with their peers (i.e. the bottom 20%) are identified during lessons and are given interventions on an afternoon. 

Language comprehension

We know that along with decoding, comprehension skills are also necessary for confident and competent readers, and neither is sufficient on their own. Children in Nursery and Reception are read to regularly, and their ability to comprehend and answer questions is developed orally.  Children from KS1 take part in daily reading lessons, where children are exposed to a range of different genres and topics and can demonstrate their skills, understanding and thinking behind these. In the year 1/2 classes where the children’s phonics and decoding skills remain a focus, teachers plan a carousel style Guided Reading lesson to ensure children are heard read regularly, and they can participate in skills-based discussion around the books. From year 2 upwards, whole class reading is taught. These lessons are skills based and always include vocabulary. The class text is used to plan lessons alongside fiction and poetry. Books from the ‘Five Plagues of Reading’ spine are also used, which children need exposure to in order to successfully navigate reading with confidence. Teachers can also use PiXL, Literacy Shed and Grammarsaurus to support their reading planning. Reading lessons are whole class and no child is excluded as we believe that with the right support and scaffolding, as well as being immersed in an environment rich in ‘book talk’, all children can make progress.

Reading at home and in school

We are fortunate to have a wide range of reading books in our school. All children from Nursery to Year 6 choose a reading book to take home and this reading book is changed regularly. For children who are still becoming secure with their phonic knowledge, the reading book they take home is closely matched to their phonic ability from the Sounds Write and Dandelion Readers schemes. They also choose a book to share at home to ensure they develop a love of stories and reading, and are exposed to richer and more complex vocabulary.  As soon as children can use and apply their phonic knowledge confidently, teachers plan time for children to be tested using the Accelerated Reader program. These are levelled books which match the children’s current reading age based on the STAR reading assessment. We expect family at home to read these books with their child daily and make comments in their child’s reading record. For children who do not read regularly at home or who are working below age related expectations, they are targeted for daily reading with the teacher or teaching assistant. 

Children are read to each day by their class teacher, and are listened to at least twice a week through the whole class reading model. The class books are often linked to the curriculum, but where this is not possible a challenging, age appropriate book to match the children’s interests is selected. Each classroom has a reading area that is filled with books suitable for their reading age. This is a comfortable and inviting place for children to read throughout the day.   

Assessing reading and phonics

Teachers complete regular phonics assessments to identify gaps in learning and ensure they are on track to meet the expected standard in the phonics screening. Whole class reading lessons in addition to hearing the children read aloud regularly ensures that teachers can continually assess children’s progress in reading and plan timely interventions where necessary.

To see our non exhaustive list of texts that children will read while at Sacred Heart, see the curriculum overview document below.

To see how our curriculum drivers are embedded into our teaching of phonics and reading, click below