At St John’s, we aim to promote the love of reading by providing high quality texts that link to curriculum topic taught across all year groups.
Power of Reading
At St John’s we use CLPE’s Power of Reading programme from EYFS to Year 6. The introduction of this programme has helped raised engagement and attainment of both reading and writing for pupils within their English lessons and it fully supports the teaching of the statutory skills from the National Curriculum. We feel this is due to the full immersion into the texts and how this supports all aspects of English from reading, writing, grammar, spelling and speaking and listening. Teaching sequences are delivered through a high quality text, in which the children spend time studying for around 2-6 weeks, and these can include a range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and playscripts. We have tried to make cross-curricular links where possible with topics such as History, Geography and Science. We have taken time to carefully map out the texts we have chosen, to specific year groups and at specific times of the year. We have also ensured that the children are exposed to a broad and varied text which are both diverse and inclusive.
Reading Skills
In Key Stage 1, children are taught reading skills through whole class phonics sessions five times a week. In addition, guided reading is taught through a carousel method five times a week. Children work in small focus groups where the teacher and class teaching assistant will work with their group at least once a week. Children will then be set independent work to complete in the sessions they are not supported.
In Key Stage 2, reading skills are taught through a whole class reading session three times per week. Each term the class teacher will teach explicit skills such as inference, prediction and summarising through a range of text. Where possible we try to use cross-curricular texts to support learning, e.g. Goodnight Mr Tom a text set in WW2 Britain is taught in Year 6 alongside the History topic of WW2.
Teachers use detailed medium term plans to ensure the progression of skills is taught across each year group. They ensure that all text types are covered, e.g. poetry, playscripts, fiction and non-fiction within guided reading and whole class reading sessions.
Reading for Pleasure
Each classroom has an extensive library, in which children can choose a home reader whenever they choose. Teachers regularly replenish and restock the classroom books corners, making sure it is an inviting space for children, with the most up-to-date titles by popular children’s authors.
In Key Stage 1, children’s home reading books will be changed 2-3 times per week. These books will be linked to the phonics level the children are currently working at so they are fully decodable. Children are also able to choose a home reading book from their classroom books corner to take home in addition to the phonics book.
In Key Stage 2, weekly reading challenges are set for the children twice a week. This encourages children to read regularly and develops a love of reading. Children are requested to record their reading in a home reading record, which we believes encourages children to share their reading with parents and develops good communications between home and school.
