Reading
Reading at Keresley Newland
Reading is at the heart of the curriculum at both Keresley Newland. It forms a key part of all learning experiences with a focus on extending children's language. Children are provided with a wide range of reading opportunities, encouraging a love of reading that will stay with them throughout their lives. We want all children to form positive reading habits and become experienced readers before they move on to the next stage of their education.
Our aim is for all children to see themselves as readers; who are adventurous in their choice of reading material and who are motivated to read widely and constantly. Our practice is constantly evolving as we search for the way to ensure we give the greatest number of children the best chance possible of developing these habits.
Phonics to Fluency
At Keresley Newland, we follow the Read Write Inc. phonics and spelling programme. We believe that all children can learn to read; and we do everything we can to get children reading early.
Children begin their phonics learning in Pride Rock Nursery where they are introduced to the first sounds. All children learn phonics in a set, that is focused on the sounds that they know and can use. They have a quick test each half-term and groups change to reflect the progress that children make. Alongside daily RWI, there is a daily phonics game and children also have access to Reading Eggs, which is an online platform focused on phonics and reading. Children also take home reading books that are full of the sounds they already know, and this helps to build confidence with phonics and fluency in reading.
We expect children to read at home each day and books are sent home to support this. Children can also use the RWI online portal, where there are a wide range of books to read again with sounds that they know.
At this stage, there is a clear link to writing. There is a clear focus on children using the sounds that they know to write. Much of writing in the early stages is based on Hold a Sentence, which develops accuracy and confidence in the written work.
When children complete the RWI program, they move onto Little Wandle Fluency, where they are grouped according to their fluency score and work on fluency and comprehension skills.
Reading Comprehension
Comprehension is key to all learning and is a skill that is built into all areas of school life. This begins with oral comprehension and builds to formal written comprehension.
In all year groups, there are a range of texts and books that are shared with children, and comprehension is deliberately built into these times. Comprehension forms part of Talk for Writing, Talk through Stories, Plagues of Reading and Class Readers.
Following work on RWI and Little Wandle Fluency, children practice their comprehension of a wide range of text in reading lessons and across the curriculum. They will be given opportunities to answer a range of reading questions, based upon the reading VIPERS, which they respond to both written and orally.
Children use their comprehension in a range of ways.
Accelerated Reader - Reading for Pleasure
At Keresley Newland you can feel the buzz about books. All children in Adventure and Fantasy Teams are actively involved in our Accelerated Reader programme, which hooks them in to reading and leads them on a quest for their next best read.
Accelerated Reader challenges our children and encourages them to extend their reading experience. Once they have read a book, the children take a quiz on it. A result of 85% or more in that quiz means the words are added to their word count. The children try to beat their monthly target, which takes them closer to their millionaire reader reward.
The star reading assessment informs our children (and their teacher) of the number and colour of their reading level. Our librarians are available daily to support the children, as they choose their books from our busy school library.
