Reading and Phonics

Reading & Phonics

• Teaching of Reading guidance 2020
• Literacy policy 2020

Through our reading curriculum, children will…

• Develop phonic knowledge so they can accurately decode words, using a consistent and progressive approach through EYFS and KS1
• Develop fluency in reading and be able to read with tone and expression
• Develop a love of reading and individual preferences for books and authors
• Be able to talk confidently about books and their opinion on what they have read
• Develop and extend their vocabulary
• Develop a deep understanding of what they have read
• Develop their understanding of the world through experiencing a wide range of different genres and authors

At Woodhouse Community Primary School we are passionate and dedicated in ensuring we support   children in becoming confident and enthusiastic readers and writers who develop a love of reading through experiencing a wide range of books and texts from different genres. Our ambition is that children strive to become life long learners without limitations. We intend that through reading opportunities our children will develop cultural, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Our intention to equip children with the skills of language, which are essential to ensure they can participate fully as a member of society, including having the ability to speak, read and write fluently and confidently.

At Woodhouse Community Primary School Communication & Language and Literacy are key areas of focus, our youngest children begin their learning journey in Little Rainbows and Nursery where they receive a breadth of experiences based upon Letters and Sounds and extensive experiences of speaking, listening and story based activities. When children enter Reception they embark on their phonics journey. As a school, we use the Department of Education approved Read, Write, Inc programme. This programme ensures the teaching of phonics and learning is progressive. Our aim is for children to become fluent and confident readers by the end of Key Stage 1. Those children that continue on their phonics learning journey in key Stage 2 will access discrete phonics sessions to support their developing knowledge.

In Key Stage 2, children continue their learning journey through accessing a range of fiction and non-fiction books. Reading in Key Stage 2 is monitored through Accelerated Reader and My On. Accelerated Reader is a powerful tool for monitoring and managing independent reading practice, which meets the needs of every child. The software supports children in selecting books that are appropriately challenging while promoting progression of vocabulary growth and reading skills. Children use Accelerated Reader to quiz on their reading books; allowing reading skills and progression to be monitored.

MyOn is also used across the school to promote reading both in school and at home. Children’s MyOn and Accelerated Reader accounts are connected and have supported the love of reading and greater access to fiction and non-fiction texts that are accessed both at home and school. Children use age and stage appropriate texts to complete projects linked to a range of curriculum areas.

Read Write Inc.

We use the Read Write Inc.  (RWI) scheme in school, from Reception to the end of Key Stage 1.  This is a structured reading and phonics programme, which equips children with secure phonic knowledge in order to help them to become confident, fluent readers.  We have been very pleased with the success of the programme and this is reflected in the steady increase in the number of children who have passed the Year 1 Phonics Test in the last 3 years.

If you would like to find out more about RWI or Literacy and Language, please contact Mrs Nichols, who is the RWI Reading Lead or please read the guidance for parents here:

Guidance for Parents and Carers

Reading for Pleasure

Click on the year groups below to see what books they have read or will be reading, within class and at home:

• EYFS Reading for Pleasure
• Year 1 Reading for Pleasure
• Year 2 Reading for Pleasure
• Year 3 Reading for Pleasure
• Year 4 Reading for Pleasure
• Year 5 Reading for Pleasure
• Year 6 Reading for Pleasure

School Library

We have a wonderful school library which is open for parents and carers to come in and share a book (and have a coffee!) with your child before school on every morning. We even have a parent section, where you are welcome to borrow a book for yourself! Your child can earn a token to earn 5 extra Dojo points each time they come along to read with an adult.

For now, please take a look at our Virtual Library .

Thank you to Marine Academy and Parklands Primary for their support with this.

Accelerated Reading Programme

Since September 2018, all children in Y1-Y6 are part of Accelerated Reading. This is an online programme, designed to encourage children to read regularly and broadly, earning points and improving their reading outcomes. They then take a quiz at the end of every book, to ascertain their level of understanding. A weekly Reading Champion certificate is awarded in Celebration Assembly every Friday for the child who has been outstanding in reading that week.  If you would like to know more about AR, please contact Mrs Nichols or Mrs Oldfield.

Home Learning Resources and Helpful Tips

Reading with Your Child