Reading is at the heart of our curriculum, enabling children to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to become lifelong learners. Through a variety high-quality texts and engaging reading experiences, we nurture curiosity, foster resilience and promote a love for literature that supports children in achieving their full potential.
Children have the opportunity to read a wide variety of texts that enrich their learning and inspire a love of reading. These include classic and contemporary fiction, diverse and inclusive stories, poetry, plays, non-fiction and texts that support cross-curricular learning. From traditional tales and modern picture books to thought-provoking novels and information texts, children engage with literature that broadens their horizons, develops their critical thinking, and nurtures a lifelong passion for reading.
Through the Accelerated Reader programme, pupils take home books that are expertly matched to their reading level. They regularly engage with quizzes on these texts to check their understanding, ensuring they are reading appropriately challenging and engaging material that supports their progress.
Children learn to become fluent readers through explicit instruction on phonics, decoding strategies, and comprehension skills. As they progress, they develop the ability to read with accuracy, fluency and expression, enabling them to access a broad and enriching curriculum. Our approach ensures that every child, regardless of their starting point, is equipped with the tools they need to read confidently and independently. For more information on how we teach reading, please see our ‘Reading Pedagogy’ document.
We celebrate diversity through our carefully curated selection of books that reflect different cultures, perspectives and experiences, ensuring every child sees themselves represented in literature while developing empathy for others.
We advocate global citizenship through reading texts that explore global issues, sustainability and social justice, empowering children to think critically about the world and their role within it.
We foster a culture of talk by encouraging discussion around books, storytelling and shared reading experiences, helping children develop strong oral language skills and confidence in expressing their ideas.
We promote play, passion and joy by immersing children in engaging reading experiences, storytelling, book-related activities, and creative responses that spark imagination and make reading a joyful and meaningful part of their lives.