The teaching of reading at Our Lady & St Werburgh's complies entirely with the findings of current research and is compatible with DfE guidance on reading instruction. In consultation with our children, we have produced a reading pathway which focusses on three key criteria for successful, life-long reading:
*Reading for pleasure
*Reading for development
*Reading for information
Our children take home two books and understand the difference in purpose for reading these books. All children have a book-banded book that they are able to read with 90% or above accuracy- this book helps to develop their developmental reading, so will be matched to their phonic ability or reading age. Class libraries and our school library are stocked with 'reading for development' books alongside carefully selected class books to supplement topics and themes being taught in class.
Our well-stocked library also enables our children to read any book that peaks their interest. We encourage children to borrow a book of their choice from our library for parents to read with them if they feel unable to read it themselves, so as not to put a cap on their reading. This is their 'reading for pleasure' book. We keep a list of these borrowed books to keep tabs on what children are choosing to read, and make recommendations and suggestions to broaden their reading knowledge where appropriate.
Class teachers read to and with children frequently, across the whole curriculum, to develop children's love of story telling and reading skills such as fact retrieval, inference and deduction, vocabulary acquisition etc. High-quality texts support children's knowledge and understanding of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.
Termly summative tests support teacher judgements in assessing reading, but do not take the place of formative, ongoing assessments that teachers make on a daily basis.
Progression in Reading
Teachers plan reading opportunities carefully to ensure that the strands of the National Curriculum are met and that learning is progressive and builds upon prior knowledge and skills. Our progression grid for Reading ensures the correct content and skills are covered at the appropriate stages within the curriculum: