Reading & Phonics

Reading & Phonics Leads – Hannah Cole & Abby Diot

We believe that reading is the foundation for learning. Phonics equips children with the skills to decode text confidently, enabling them to read with fluency, comprehension, and enjoyment. Above all, we want every child to become a lover of reading, inspired by stories, ideas, and the written word. 

From the very start, children are immersed in Little Wandle Letters and Sounds, a systematic phonics programme used across both schools. Children learn the phonetic code explicitly and apply it when reading and writing. Children take home reading books that match their developing phonics knowledge, alongside library books to share and enjoy with their families, and in Key Stage 2 a text from the Accelerated Reader scheme too. 

We provide many opportunities for children to read with adults and peers, developing reading skills through one-to-one, guided, shared, and whole-class reading. High-quality texts are carefully chosen to reflect a range of characters, cultures and settings, supporting learning across the curriculum and fostering rich discussion and curiosity. Each year group follows a curated reading spine, including fiction, non-fiction and poetry, to ensure that all children encounter a wide variety of high-quality texts. 

Reading is given top priority in the school day, with structured time for reading activities every day. For children who require additional support, targeted interventions such as Little Wandle Rapid Catch Up, Literacy for All, and specialist phonics teacher to ensure that all children develop strong reading skills. 

We enrich our reading curriculum with library sessions, author visits, book clubs, book fairs, World Book Day celebrations, and school-specific initiatives like the book vending machine at Stoughton and Accelerated Reader at Northmead. These experiences help children towards developing a lifelong love of reading. 

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