Wodensfield Primary School
'Aim to be The Best You Can'
Reading
At Wodensfield, we recognise that reading underpins all aspects of learning across the curriculum and is the most fundamental skill that children need. This is why the teaching of reading is extremely important to us.
Storytime
Throughout Foundation and Key Stage 1 (KS1), children regularly listen to carefully chosen stories designed to inspire their love of books and reading, and to develop their understanding of how books work. They develop their comprehension and vocabulary through role-play and guided discussion. Even before they can read independently, Reception children have take-home books for their parents to read and enjoy with them. They work in small groups at school to enjoy their books and learn basic book language.
Phonics and early reading
At Wodensfield, we follow the Read Write Inc. (RWI) programme for the teaching of early reading. RWI is an inclusive phonics programme for all children from Reception to Year 2. Children have daily lessons where they learn the 44 common phonemes in the English language and how to blend them to read and spell. As children progress through the programme, they learn to apply their reading skills and become confident and independent readers who are able to comprehend capably. Children on the scheme are assessed regularly (each half-term) which allows them to progress effectively. It is the intention for most pupils to have completed the RWI programme by the end of KS1, however any pupils still requiring support will continue with a phonics intervention in Year 3.
Further information about RWI phonics can be found here:
Information for Parents and Carers
Reading scheme
As part of the daily RWI reading scheme, children will read books that match the sounds that they have been taught in RWI lessons. These are fully decodable and are sent home as an e-book after the third read in school. Children are also given an RWI Book Bag linked to their class reader. When they have completed the phonics programme, they will progress onto a colour-banded book scheme. Children progress through the book bands experiencing a wide range of quality, engaging texts including fiction, non-fiction, rhyming books and poetry. We possess a wide range of publishers and schemes including Oxford Reading Tree, Cambridge, National Geographic, Bug Club, PM and Heinemann.
Oxford Reading Tree & Levels: parent guide | Oxford Owl
Whole-class guided reading
When children have completed the RWI programme they progress into whole-class guided reading lessons. At Wodensfield, our guided reading journey teaches children comprehension skills, through structured teaching around the different reading domains, such as retrieval, summarising and inferring meaning. This domain-led approach enables children to tackle engaging and challenging texts with an effective understanding. The fortnightly journey incorporates opportunities for collaborative discussions leading to independent application of the taught skills. To conclude the fortnightly guided reading sequence, children complete a Big Read, where they can apply the skills they have been taught through an independent comprehension activity. This forms part of a wider assessment cycle in reading.
Reading to an adult
Each week, every child from Nursery to Year 2 will read with/to an adult in school and we ensure that reading books are carefully matched to ability and which engage and motivate pupils. Some children (including older ones) may require more one-to-one reading support or specialist reading teaching. Once children are able to decode and become more independent in their reading, teachers continue to hear children read, but provision may vary depending on their needs. Some children will need more one-to-one reading support or through other interventions, such as echo reading or small-group work. Children are also heard read in their whole-class guided reading sessions.
Reading for pleasure
Reading for pleasure is always encouraged: pupils have access to a variety of books within each phase (corridor shelves). In addition to this, every class will visit either the KS1 or KS2 library regularly in order to select other reading materials to supplement their daily reading book. At parents’ evening, a book fair is held, where parents and children are encouraged to browse the books on offer and teachers are happy to recommend appropriate books. We encourage our parents to support their children throughout their reading journey by listening to them and discussing the book at an appropriate level. We also celebrate reading for pleasure through other methods such as: actively engaging in World Book Day; hosting and participating in reading initiatives; praise assembly awards; and offering extra-curricular clubs.
