Reading at Harbury
At Harbury C of E Primary School, our English curriculum is designed to promote a love of reading and enable our learners to develop and practice the skills to become accomplished communicators in both written and spoken language. We have designed a rigorous and well-organised English curriculum that provides many purposeful opportunities for our learners using a text-based approach. We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in English, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum. This means that our learners are fluent readers who demonstrate a good understanding of the genre, context, language and themes covered in a variety of texts. Our intent is that by using a well-defined reading process with exposure to high-quality texts and explicitly taught vocabulary, our children will see themselves as readers and develop a love of literature for life.
Reading in the Early Years
Our pupils’ reading journey begins with the exposure to high quality picture books within the EYFS classroom; books are a consistent hook to the learning and many areas of the EYFS provision are enriched by the presence of books linked to the main learning theme. Children in Reception enjoy dedicated story time and the pupils engage in daily book votes where they get to decide which books they wish to share with each other. Through direct teaching, the children are encouraged to listen out for new and interesting vocabulary in the stories they are read and these are highlighted to the children in order to enhance their own knowledge. We welcome parents into the Early Years provision in order to share books with their children as well as inviting visitors from our school and village community to read to the children.
Phonics
In Reception and KS1 classrooms, we complete daily systematic phonic sessions using the Read Write Inc Phonics. All our staff are trained in delivering the programme so that we can ensure high quality sessions which ensure progress in reading for all. In reading ability groups, the children follow the daily speed sound session which then links directly into the guided reading sessions where the children practise their blending skills and answer simple comprehension questions. Where children are finding the acquisition of reading skills difficult, we use 1:1 sessions to boost their understanding of the key sounds and blending skills. The children take home Read Write Inc Book Bag books at the end of the week so that they can practise skills and showcase their reading with their families at home.
Where children are requiring further phonics teaching in KS2, they are supported through additional small group sessions.
The Teaching of Reading Skills
At Harbury, we believe that high-quality literature which immerses our pupils in language-rich texts and diverse contexts whilst inviting them to reflect and question its themes, should sit at the heart of our reading offer. Through our understanding of the complex web of skills needed to become a competent reader and the importance of reading skills for life, we plan reading sessions that sit firmly within the reading to writing learning journey. We focus on planning lessons that include the skills to unpick and analyse characters, plot, vocabulary and context through book talk opportunities around key class texts.
Accelerated Reader
Within Key Stage Two, we use the Accelerated Reading programme to ensure that our children are reading books which closely match their reading fluency and comprehension ability. Through a clear assessment cycle involving Accelerated Reader STARR assessments and quizzes, class teachers monitor the progress of their pupils. In addition to this, during regular reading time, class teachers and support staff hear children read and engage in bespoke questioning in order to inform their judgements.
Reading for Pleasure
Reading for pleasure is important to us and we ensure that every class shares a class novel daily for enjoyment.
Whilst we want to nurture a love of literature all year round, specific Love Reading events happen in the spring term where staff, parents and pupils take part in workshops, activities and engage with visitors to promote a love of literature. Additionally, we embed high-quality texts within other whole school events; for example: International day of Peace, Black History Month, World Disability Day, Growth Mindset Month and Internet Safety week. We value the role literature can play in preparing our pupils for the world they live in.
We form strong links with our village library; children visit with their class as well as engaging with the annual summer reading challenge. Recently, the library has begun to AR code their books to ensure consistency for parents and children.
Our Harbury Book Club has members of KS2 undertaking specific roles within our school as reading ambassadors as well as enjoying times together to share their love of specific authors and particular genres.
We aim that by the end of KS2 all of our children have made progress from their starting points in EYFS. At the end of each year, we expect the children to have achieved Age Related Expectations (ARE) for their year group. Some children will have progressed further and achieved greater depth (GD). Children will use their English knowledge and skills, in all curriculum areas, to enable them to know more, remember more and understand more. With the implementation of our reading offer and this being a priority in both key stages, we hope our children will become more confident and capable readers.
Harbury has launched Accelerated Reader! See below for some additional information and our unique log in portal:
What is Accelerated Reader?
At a glance
Accelerated Reader is a computer-based program that schools may use to monitor reading practice and progress.
It helps teachers guide kids to books that are at kids’ individual reading levels.
Kids take short quizzes after reading a book to check if they’ve understood it.
HomeConnect is where parents can access information on their child's AR progress. Parents will be sent a letter with login details.
https://global-zone61.renaissance-go.com/studentprogress/homeconnect?t=2249442
We have created this video to help parents to access AR progress at home:
AR Parent Access
You can also scan the QR code to head straight there on any other device.
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