Reading
At Swallowdale, it is our aim for all children to learn to read fluently and with understanding; to view themselves as readers and have access to quality texts; to develop a love of reading; and through reading be able to understand more about themselves, others and the world in which they live.
We aim to meet, and where possible exceed, the expectations laid out in the Early Learning Goals and National Curriculum. Once children can decode text effectively, we aim to build word recognition, fluency and to develop comprehension. By the end of their time at Swallowdale, our aim is to ensure children are secure, confident and independent readers who enjoy and understand the benefits of reading and who will be able to access any subject in their secondary education and beyond.
‘Reading is important. If you know how to read then the whole world opens up to you,’ – Barack Obama
Implementation
The teaching of reading begins with oracy and phonics. We recognise that systematic, high quality teaching of phonics is essential and this has a high priority throughout Foundation Stage and KS1 (see Phonics Policy). We follow the Read Write Inc. phonics programme, complemented by purposeful talk and shared reading experiences that expose children to a wide range of vocabulary, syntax and sentence structure. As part of the RWI programme, children have a daily phonics lesson which is matched to their developmental needs. The teachers draw upon observations and continuous assessment to ensure children are stretched and challenged, and to identify, at the earliest opportunity, children who may need additional support to keep up.
During Year 2, the teaching of reading combines the RWI phonics programme with guided group reading, faster reading and whole class teaching of reading.
From Year 3 onwards, reading is taught through faster reading and whole-class reading lessons which take place daily. Reading lessons in KS2 further develop children’s fluency and prosody; develop reading skills as identified in our reading jigsaw; and immerse children in a wide range of texts. Where required, children will continue to access phonics teaching and additional 1:1 or group support.
We further seek to ensure purposeful reading opportunities take place across the wider curriculum and have linked texts to support children’s engagement and understanding. We also share books within assembly.
Alongside the teaching of reading, we promote reading for pleasure as this itself plays a major role in reading development: we aim for all children to develop a will to read alongside the skill to read and believe this is best developed through shared reading experiences. We recognise the importance of reading aloud to children each day and this time is protected and prioritised. Staff read to children daily: a book selected from our school reading spine or a picture book, non-fiction text or poem specifically chosen for or by them – and from this shared experience, book talk is developed and encouraged. Children are also heard read by staff and volunteers as often as possible: this may be during lessons, in a guided group or 1:1.
Writing
During our English writing lessons at Swallowdale, we aim to create the conditions in which writing and being a writer is a purposeful and pleasurable experience. We also ensure that children develop an understanding of how widely writing is used in everyday life and, therefore, how important and useful the skills are that they are learning.
We teach the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures we are building year by year and sequencing appropriately to maximise learning for all children.
In EYFS, alongside RWI phonics lessons, children are guided to write cvc words, moving onto short sentences using the sounds they have been taught. They are also encouraged to write independently in continuous provision.
As children progress into KS1, the development of early writing skills continues, the use of dictation is further developed and children are introduced to writing for a purpose: to entertain or to inform.
During KS2, children continue to develop their understanding and skills when writing for purpose and further consider the audience for whom they are writing. Children in, In Upper KS2, children will develop an understanding that writing can often have more than one purpose.