At Tunstead, we value reading as a key life skill and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to not only achieve academically but also to have a lifelong love of books and take pleasure from reading. To ensure we teach reading successfully we implement the following across the whole school:
- Children in KS2 take part in daily Guided Reading sessions.
- Children in Reception and Year 1 are taught phonics using Little Wandle- They have discreet daily phonics lessons and have shared reading sessions three times a week.
- Each child from Nursery to Year 6 has access to the school library or class readers and can take a book home to share with family.
- Each classroom has a reading area which contains a selection of books which are changed regularly. A selection of books are directly linked to the class topic; this offers opportunities for children to apply their reading skills across the curriculum.
- Children are read to each day by their class teacher; some of the choices during this time will come from the class recommended text list.
- Children who are not yet free readers will work through our school reading scheme. These books are levelled books that match the child’s current reading age.
- Reading is part of homework which is set weekly. Children are required to read and add comments to their reading records. There is clear guidance about the type of comments expected.
- Children in EYFS and KS1 will have daily, discreet phonics sessions. These sessions follow the phases of letters and sounds, blending for reading and segmenting for spelling is covered. They also look at reading focus phonemes within the context of real books.
- All EYFS children take home a new story sack every week.
It is our intention that children leave Tunstead as fluent readers with a passion for knowledge and a love of literature. We aim for them to be able to confidently discuss an author’s use of language for effect and be able to understand different genres and texts.
Teachers use their PPA to plan their reading and phonic curriculum. During the course of the year some staff meetings are used for planning, moderation and professional development.
Staff are expected to plan the following:
- Daily Guided reading sessions using a wide range of different genres and authors.
- Exposure to a range of excellent texts through daily sharing of a book by an adult.
- Daily phonics sessions in EYFS and KS1.
- Discreet grammar and punctuation sessions that encourage children to analyse text and language.
- Prepare and share knowledge organisers linked to topics that encourage children to build vocabulary and knowledge into long term memory.
- Ensure each class has a display that celebrates new vocabulary that is regularly referred to by staff.
In EYFS pupils are assessed against ELG’s. (Early Learning Goals) Assessment is ongoing and mainly completed through observations by staff. For Year’s one to six, children are assessed using the reading KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) available on the school website.
Teachers will assess children regularly using a selection of: NFER, past SATS papers or other testing materials and Salford reading tests. These tests are used to identify gaps and areas for development. This information is then used to inform planning and next steps for children.
All children from their individual starting points will make at least good progress in reading and phonics. This will be assessed using the phonic screening test at the end of Year one, SATS at the end of Year 2 and 6 and EYFS framework at the end of Reception. In all other years we are expecting children to meet KPI’s ensuring they make good progress across key stages.
As they make good progress children will become fluent, confident readers that read for pleasure and enjoyment. They will use their skills to access information and build a wealth of knowledge across the curriculum with deep understanding.
Phonics resources and games
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Mr Thorne Does Phonics
Fantastic videos to help with the different sounds
Letters and Sounds for Home School
Brilliant phonics lessons for children to watch at home.
