Reading
At Loscoe C of E Primary School and Nursery, reading is at the heart of our curriculum. We want every child to become a fluent, confident and enthusiastic reader who enjoys books, understands language and can read successfully for both pleasure and purpose.
We believe that every child can achieve their full potential as a reader. Through The Loscoe Way, we carefully identify and address gaps, develop rich and ambitious vocabulary and, most importantly, inspire a lifelong love of books and reading.
Our reading-rich environment, carefully chosen texts and high-quality teaching help ensure that reading is accessible to all children, including those who are disadvantaged or have SEND.
Phonics and Early Reading
Getting children off to a strong start with reading is incredibly important to us.
We use the Little Wandle programme to teach phonics and early reading. Children's progress is assessed every half term, allowing staff to quickly identify any children who need extra help. Where a child begins to fall behind, targeted 1:1 tutoring using Little Wandle resources is provided.
In EYFS, books, stories, discussion and ambitious vocabulary are also developed through Drawing Club, alongside a carefully chosen collection of core books. Children develop their fluency during daily phonics sessions using books matched to their phonetic ability.
In Year 2, children progress to the Little Wandle Fluency programme, completing three reading sessions each week and being assessed in line with the programme.
Reading in Key Stage 2
As children move through school, we continue to develop confident, thoughtful and fluent readers.
In Key Stage 2, we use Fred's Reading Programme, alongside our carefully selected core books. Children experience a range of reading opportunities designed to develop fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, knowledge and an understanding of how authors use language.
Our reading curriculum includes three important approaches:
Fluency
Children hear adults model expressive, fluent reading before having opportunities to practise themselves. Repeated reading, paired reading, choral reading and discussion help children improve their accuracy, expression and confidence.
Close Reading
Close reading gives children an opportunity to explore a text in greater depth. Children discuss unfamiliar vocabulary, explore themes and consider why an author has made particular language choices and the effect these have on the reader.
We encourage children to ask questions, share their thinking and listen to the ideas of others, helping reading become a rich and purposeful conversation.
Extended Reading and Core Books
Extended reading gives children the opportunity to become immersed in longer texts. It develops fluency, vocabulary, background knowledge, understanding of texts and reading stamina.
As children become increasingly fluent, they gradually develop their ability to read independently for longer periods, while children who need additional support continue to benefit from adult modelling and supported reading.
Books That Open Windows and Provide Mirrors
We believe that every child should be able to see themselves in the books they read while also discovering lives and experiences beyond their own.
Our core and reading-for-pleasure books are largely drawn from the DDAT reading collections. When choosing books, teachers consider a diverse range of authors, cultures, experiences and perspectives.
We aim to provide:
Mirror books that allow children to see aspects of their own lives and experiences reflected in stories.
Window books that give children an insight into the lives and experiences of others.
Our reading choices explore a range of experiences and perspectives, helping children develop empathy, understanding and a broader view of the world around them.
Reading for Pleasure
At Loscoe, we don't just want children to learn to read. We want them to love reading.
Reading for pleasure supports children's vocabulary and comprehension while helping to develop empathy and a lifelong relationship with books.
Children are read to regularly by adults using engaging, high-quality books, and our Reading Ambassadors help to create excitement around reading through book talk, recommendations and reading with younger children.
We want our children to talk about books, recommend them to one another, discover favourite authors and genres and, above all, experience the joy of finding a book they simply don't want to put down.
Reading at Home
Our partnership with families plays an important part in developing successful readers. Within children's reading records, they track their reading and we celebrate their milestones with rewards on their stamp charts.
EYFS and Key Stage 1
Children take home two books each week: a book to enjoy for pleasure and a phonics or ability-level book aligned with their current stage of reading development.
Key Stage 2
Children select books from the library that are matched to their Accelerated Reader ZPD level. They can also choose an additional book purely for pleasure from their classroom selection. If children begin a book and discover it isn't for them, we encourage them to choose something different. Reading should be something children want to do.
Children can complete Accelerated Reader quizzes after finishing books and have opportunities to share their opinions through book reviews, Post-it notes, videos and the KS2 reading scrapbook.
We also encourage reading at home through our Spin-the-Wheel competitions, and children can request books they would like the school to purchase.
Supporting Every Reader
We know that children learn to read at different rates. Our approach is designed to identify children who need additional support and provide help quickly.
In EYFS and KS1, children who are identified as not being on track through half-termly assessment receive targeted Little Wandle tutoring. Additional phonics teaching and opportunities to read with an adult are also used to strengthen children's reading skills.
In KS2, children requiring the greatest reading support receive regular 1:1 reading focused on decoding, fluency and comprehension. Little Wandle Rapid Catch-up, comprehension-based intervention and the Little Wandle Fluency programme may also be used depending upon children's needs. Nessy Club is additionally offered outside school hours.
Our aim is simple: no child should feel that reading isn't for them. Through the right books, the right teaching and the right support, we want every child at Loscoe to experience success as a reader.
Our Reading Promise
At Loscoe, we will help our children to:
- become fluent and confident readers
- develop a rich and ambitious vocabulary
- understand and discuss what they read
- experience books from a wide range of authors, cultures and perspectives
- see themselves and others represented through literature
- talk enthusiastically about books and authors
- develop the confidence to choose books independently
- receive additional support quickly when they need it
- and, above all, develop a lifelong love of reading.