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

The introduction of the CLPE’s Power of Reading programme within Key Stage 2 this year, has helped raised engagement and attainment of reading and writing for pupils within their English lessons. 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 and poetry. The texts are chosen to work alongside history, geography or science topics where possible.

Reading Skills

In Key Stage 1, children are taught reading skills 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 fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts.

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, or may be banded reading books. Children are also able to choose a home reading book from their classroom books corner to take home in addition to the phonic or banded books.

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.