Reading
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
- Dr Seuss
Subject Leader: Mrs Rachel Malster-Hinett
Stamford Bridge Primary School is committed to instilling a lifelong love for books and fostering independent, confident readers through a vibrant reading culture that emphasises pleasure, engagement, and preparation for academic success.
Intent
At Stamford Bridge Primary School, we wholeheartedly believe that reading is an essential life skill that lays the foundation for success in our children's futures. We are committed to nurturing a culture of reading that empowers young minds, enriches lives, and sparks a lifelong love for books.
Reading for pleasure is at the heart of what we do, and we celebrate the joy that comes from exploring the pages of a book. Our Reading For Pleasure Partnership with parents helps children to develop as curious learners who actively participate in dialogue by questioning, relating to, expressing views, and engaging in discussions about a range of quality, engaging texts. We place books, texts, and images at the heart of daily school life, creating an atmosphere where reading for pleasure is celebrated.
Our reading curriculum is designed to ensure that all children recognise reading as an open door to all other learning opportunities. Through reading, our children have the opportunity to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially, and spiritually. We understand that each book offers new and unique experiences, challenges thinking, and nurtures imagination. We aim for our students to not only read but to want to read. We inspire confidence and competence in our children by exposing them to a wide range of high-quality texts, in the classroom, in our reading space corners and in our school library.
Our aim is to ensure that every child becomes an independent reader, fostering a life-long enjoyment of reading and books. We prepare our children right from the start of our Foundation Stage to transition to secondary school as enthusiastic, fluent, and confident readers in any subject, equipping them with the knowledge, understanding, and attitudes they need to reach their full potential as individuals and literate members of society.
Implementation
Implementation: (Reading Curriculum Design)
At Stamford Bridge Primary School, we have a profound understanding of the vital role we play in teaching children to read. This is not only one of our core responsibilities but also a fundamental building block for their education. It opens the doors to knowledge and cultivates the delight and satisfaction that the written word has to offer.
Our Reading Journey
The journey of learning to read begins with a systematic approach to phonics, a path that extends seamlessly from Reception through Key Stage One and, where appropriate, into Key Stage Two. The systematic teaching of phonics is a high priority throughout Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. To facilitate this, we employ the highly organised and effective Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Programme. Our trained staff teach the understanding of the relationships between phonemes, or sounds, and the graphemes, or written spelling patterns, that represent them.
The journey of phonics commences in our Nursery, where children participate in daily 'Foundations for Phonics' sessions. Our youngest learners are encouraged to engage in enjoyable linguistic activities, exposed to a wide array of stimuli ranging from rhyming words, alliteration, songs, to role-playing. The primary focus here is to nurture a deep listening acumen in children, guiding them to relish the world of words.
This journey of phonics continues in Reception and year 1, where children engage in daily phonics sessions to continue to build that strong early word recognition. As they progress through Key Stage 1, and, as needed, Key Stage 2, this journey continues as they engage in tailored phonics sessions within small groups. These sessions encompass activities that encompass speaking, listening, spelling, and reading, all tailored to meet their current requirements. Teachers rely on observations and continuous assessments to ensure that each child is appropriately challenged and to pinpoint those who may benefit from additional support. In instances where children require extra assistance, timely intervention is meticulously planned as soon as their needs are identified.
We believe that systematic, high-quality phonics instruction is crucial. However, we understand that additional skills and opportunities are essential for children to fully embrace the objective of becoming well-rounded readers, especially in terms of comprehension and understanding.
Cusp Reading Curriculum
We are delighted to be working with Unity Schools Partnership and have adopted their reading curriculum known as CUSP (Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership) which is underpinned by the very latest research evidence from education and the field of cognitive science.
CUSP Reading is deliberately designed to be ambitious and aspirational, ensuring that every child leaves our school as a competent, confident reader. Drawing on the latest research around explicit vocabulary instruction, reading fluency and key comprehension strategies, this curriculum is a synthesis of what we know works in helping children make outstanding progress in reading and a distillation into consistent, well-structured practice. Pupils receive a daily diet of excellent reading teaching and is supplemented by regular opportunities to engage with shared reading experiences, promoting the joy of reading with the whole school community. The clear structure and principles ensure that teaching is progressive, challenging and engaging and the rich, diverse literature spine acts as both a mirror so that every child can see themselves in the core texts and as a mirror to engage pupils with experiences beyond their own field of reference.
Cusp Reading Literature Spine
Reading For Pleasure
Reading for pleasure is at the heart of everything we do, and we celebrate the joy that comes from exploring the pages of a book. Our Reading For Pleasure Partnership with parents helps children to develop as curious learners who actively participate in dialogue by questioning, relating to, expressing views, and engaging in discussions around a range of quality, engaging texts. We place books, texts, and images at the heart of daily school life, creating an atmosphere where reading for pleasure is celebrated.
Impact
At Stamford Bridge Primary School we recognise that reading is the cornerstone of academic success and personal enrichment. Our unwavering commitment to cultivating a love for reading amongst our children has far-reaching effects on their educational journey and beyond.
Academic Excellence:
Reading is not just a skill; it is the key that unlocks a world of knowledge. Our meticulously designed reading curriculum guides children from the earliest stages of phonics in Nursery to advanced comprehension strategies integrated into the CUSP Reading Curriculum. This approach allows children to achieve their potential against the key performance indicators set by the class teacher and assessment lead base dn their previous assessment data. Children who are not achieving in line with expectations are given intervention sessions in order to address any misconceptions and to allow children to progress with their learning. At the end of each term, all children are formally assessed - these tests are used to enable teachers to plan effective lessons and to break down barriers to learning.
Cultivating Curious Minds:
Beyond academic achievement, our emphasis on reading for pleasure sparks curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. The joy that comes from exploring the pages of a book becomes a catalyst for active engagement in learning. Our Reading For Pleasure Partnership extends beyond the school walls, involving parents in the journey of developing curious learners. Through dialogues, questioning, and discussions around quality texts, children become not only readers but critical thinkers and articulate communicators.
Holistic Development:
We understand that reading is not confined to textbooks; it is a tool for holistic development. By immersing children in a diverse range of high-quality texts, we foster cultural, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual growth. The literature spine of our curriculum acts as a mirror and a window, reflecting the experiences of every child and opening doors to worlds beyond their own.
Lifelong Learners:
Reading is not just a subject; it's a lifelong skill that prepares our children for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Our focus on creating independent readers ensures that every child leaves Stamford Bridge Primary with a profound enjoyment of reading and the necessary literacy skills to thrive in secondary school and beyond. The impact is not only seen in academic accomplishments but in the development of well-rounded individuals ready to contribute meaningfully to society.
At Stamford Bridge Primary School, the impact of our approach to reading is evident in the growth, confidence, and enthusiasm our children exhibit as they navigate the world of words. We are not just shaping readers; we are fostering a community of lifelong learners poised for success in the ever-evolving landscape of knowledge.