Intent

At CtS we are passionate about ensuring that all children become confident and enthusiastic readers and writers; we want all children to develop an appreciation for and a love of reading. We are committed to sharing high quality, vocabulary rich texts across the curriculum so that children develop knowledge of themselves and the world in which they live. The enjoyment of stories and the ability to decode and read a text is something that is key for even our youngest pupils, and we believe that fostering a love of reading starts from the very beginning of a child’s journey with us here at CtS. By the time our pupils leave CtS, we envisage that they will be competent readers who can recommend books to their peers, seek out books from a range of different genres, including poetry, and engage in discussion about authorial choices and their impact on the reader. Once our pupils have unlocked the key to reading here with us at CtS, it is our intention that they will become lifelong readers who have the skills and knowledge required to achieve their future aspirations.

Implementation 

 We will support all children to learn to read through clear leadership; consistent teaching and learning approaches; regular monitoring and assessment; and a joint commitment between school and home.

• Reading teachers, with support from the English and Phonics Lead and Senior Leadership Team, draw upon careful observations and continuous assessment to ensure children are challenged and that those who may need additional support to keep up are identified.

• Our chosen phonics scheme, Read Write Inc, provides the framework to teach our children the skills needed to develop into fluent readers.

• Through RWI phonics, children learn a simple alphabetic code followed by a more complex code which gives them the skills needed to decode a text and read with fluency for comprehension.

• The systematic teaching of phonics has a high priority throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1. Phonics is taught daily to all children in EYFS, Year 1 and those in Year 2 who have not passed the phonics screening in Year 1 or completed the Read, Write, Inc (RWI) phonics programme.

• Children are taught to:  

1. decode letter/sounds correspondences quickly and effortlessly, using their phonic knowledge and skills
2.  read ‘tricky’ (red words) on sight
3. discuss and understand what they have read aloud with fluency and expression
4.  spell quickly and easily by segmenting the sounds in words to  understand and demonstrate the correct formation of letters

• All children receiving phonics teaching will receive a reading book which is carefully matched to their phonics level to ensure that they can consolidate and secure their knowledge and skills.

• All pupils are heard read aloud every day in their phonics lessons and at other opportunities throughout the week.

• Teachers share engaging, high-quality texts with children every day to model good reading and to continually promote and encourage a love of reading.

• Additional opportunities are utilised throughout the day to ensure children have continual exposure to retrieve, practise and utilise their phonics skills (e.g. pinny time).

• RWI Phonics and Fresh Start are used in KS2 for children who still need additional support with their reading.

• For those at risk of falling behind, additional keep up sessions are delivered in short bursts following the RWI Fast Track Tutoring Programme.

• Children are assessed at least half-termly using the RWI assessment tools to place them in appropriate groups so they can make progress in their reading

Impact

• Through the teaching of systematic, synthetic phonics, our children will leave CtS as confident and fluent readers who enjoy both reading for pleasure and reading for learning.

• All children will be able to read words and books in line with their phonics knowledge from an early age and discuss what they have read.

• Our children will have the skills needed to read many words on sight and decode and read unfamiliar words at a speed that allows fluency and comprehension of the text.

• Children will take an interest in the words within a text and will explore the meaning of words in context and add this to their growing vocabulary.

• Children will take pleasure in reading from a wide range of literature including different genres and authors. They will have the skills needed to discuss what has been read and offer their own thoughts and opinions around a text