Reading
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The aim of our English curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written language and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment (National Curriculum 2014). We strive to develop children’s literacy within a cross-curricular programme of Reading, Writing and Speaking and Listening, providing children with a vast range of exciting and meaningful opportunities to consolidate their understanding of taught English skills and apply them in a range of contexts. As a school, we recognise the value of reading aloud to children to model appropriate use of intonation and expression and to encourage reading for pleasure. We want to enthuse them with a love of books and inspire them as writers.
Early Reading
At St Charles, the teaching of Reading is broken down into two main areas - word reading and comprehension - as stipulated in the National Curriculum (2014). This begins in EYFS, where children have discrete daily phonics lessons following the Letters and Sounds programme. Children are sent home with reading books matched to their phonics phase (fully decodable) and are listened to by the class teacher or teaching assistant at least weekly. Later in the year, as children’s word reading becomes secure, children will begin a weekly Guided Reading session. In small groups, children will read a book with the class teacher, again matched to their phonics ability, and will discuss the book, commenting on its features and answering simple comprehension questions.
In Key Stage One, children continue with daily discrete phonics teaching which is streamed to children’s abilities to further develop their word reading skills (decoding, segmenting and blending). If children have not met end of key stage phonics expectations by the end of Key Stage One and require further input, this will continue as children enter Key Stage Two.
Click here to go to our Phonics page where you will find useful links and resources to support your child.
Beyond Early Reading
In Key Stage One and Two, the teaching of Reading is approached in two main ways. The first of these is through Guided Reading, which is taught daily for 20-25 minutes.
The second approach to the teaching of Reading is through daily English lessons. Each English unit is planned in three phases: READING, GATHERING CONTENT AND WRITING. In the Reading phase, children will be immersed in a text which provides rich, challenging vocabulary and an opportunity to develop language comprehension.
Click on the links below to access a range of Reading resources that will support your child.
LANCASHIRE DIGITAL LIBRARY
