How we teach Reading
At Purlwell Infant and Nursery School we aim to develop children into confident and capable communicators. Developing language skills enables children to effectively communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences and therefore we strive to give children quality first experiences to interact, discuss and communicate effectively.
One way we promote and develop our children's communication and vocabulary skills is through the teaching of reading. Learning to read is one of the most important skills your child will achieve at our school and we aim to promote an enthusiasm for reading as soon as children enter the school.
Why learning to read is so important
- Reading is essential for all subject areas and improves life chances.
- Positive attitudes to reading and choosing to read have academic, social and emotional benefits for children.
- Purlwell has a clear and consistent, whole school approach to reading. Competence in reading is the key to lifelong learning and is given the highest priority, enabling children to become enthusiastic, independent and reflective readers. Success in reading has a direct effect upon progress in all areas of the curriculum and is crucial in developing children's confidence and motivation.
The Teaching of Reading
At Purlwell we teach reading through daily phonic sessions using Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, reading practice sessions 3 times a week, shared reading across the curriculum and the opportunity to read for pleasure. A love of books and reading is also developed through a range of exciting and stimulating texts which are used as a stimulus and underpin the cross curricular themes across a range of subjects. Parents are invited into school every week to read with their child. Each classroom has a book area that is stimulating and promotes the love of books. Children are also encouraged to bring books from home to share at school and talk about their likes and dislikes. Events are held across the year to promote reading such as Book Week and World Book Day.
Reading Practice Sessions
- Children across reception, year 1, year 2 apply their phonics knowledge by using a full matched decodable reader in a small group reading practice session.
- These sessions are 20 minutes long and happen three times a week. They focus on decoding, prosody and comprehension.
- The sessions follow the model set out in Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.
- The children will become 90 – 95% fluent when reading these books. This will develop their confidence and understanding.
- The children then take the same book home the following week to ensure success is shared with the family.
- Children will also take home a decodable practice book.
Reading for pleasure – Early Years and KS1
Alongside daily teaching of phonics, reading for pleasure is an important part of how children become successful readers. We ensure children develop a love of reading and are exposed to a range of interesting and relevant authors. We promote a love of reading in the following ways:
- Teaching of poetry, which includes performing and learning a range of poems by heart.
- Daily storytime.
- Book areas within the classroom which have a careful selection of books, including books by the focus author.
- Use of Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised ‘Foundations for a Love of reading’ stories in nursery.
- Alongside children’s decodable reading book, children also take home a reading for pleasure book each week (Home Reader). In each year group, children will take home a range of book by authors, including some which they have read in class.
- Library books will also be available for children to take home.
Working in Partnership with Parents
At Purlwell Infant and Nursery school we want to encourage every child to read with a grown up at home every night. Children who read with their families grow in confidence much more quickly and develop a love of reading that can last a lifetime.
We hold a meeting for all parents early in the autumn term in order to explain our reading schemes, procedures and expectations. Throughout the year we offer sessions for parents of children in all year groups, to explain how they can support with reading development at home.
Our school library is currently being set up so that it can be open every week for parents to share and change books with their child. The children will be given opportunities each week to go to the library during school time but if parents want to change books more frequently they can.
Hints for Listening to Your Child Read
- When reading together at home try to make the time relaxed, enjoyable and positive.
- Vary it. Read together, read to your child and take turns or have them read to you.
- Before reading, talk about the cover, the title and the pictures, and discuss what the book may be about.
- During reading, discuss what has been read up to that point and predict what might happen next.
Lost or Damaged Books
Books are expensive and should be looked after. We encourage children to look after everything around them but acknowledge that accidents happen. Lost or damaged books MUST be replaced by the school. There may be a charge for parents.