Our approach to reading

Create a school environment where reading is the breathing in, and writing is the breathing out.

 

“Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting.”  Edmund Burke

We are a reading school:

The teaching of reading is a key driver and at the very core of our curriculum. It is essential that, by the end of their primary education, all pupils are able to read fluently, and with confidence, in any subject ready for their forthcoming secondary education.  

 

At Holsworthy, pupils adapt their reading skill set to read a variety of genres and are active participants in rich discussions about texts. Pupils enjoy the social element of storytelling and are curious about an author’s choices. Pupil’s enthusiasm for reading helps them to become successful, life-long readers. 

 

Each year group are immersed in a wide range of text types and diverse themes.  They are inspired by a range of authors and poets and exposed to a balance of new and classic literature; creating a living library inside the child’s minds which will give them a good grounding for independent reading and writing in the future. 

We want every child to:

  • Have the skills to pick up and read any book they choose;
  • develop knowledge of themselves and the world in which they live through reading;
  • establish an appreciation and love of reading;
  • gain knowledge across the curriculum and
  • develop the self-awareness to understand the kind of reader they are.

Early Reading

At Holsworthy Primary School, we value reading as a crucial life skill. Through a relentless and rigorous approach to the teaching of phonics and early reading we equip our children with the skills necessary to read fluently and confidently for both pleasure and purpose. We follow the Read Write Inc. (RWI) phonics programme to develop a secure foundation in early reading and phonics. Read Write Inc. (RWI) provides a systematic and consistent approach to the teaching of reading. Through the delivery of RWI Children learn to read fluently so they can focus on developing their skills in comprehension, vocabulary and spelling. The programme ensures that children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school. The RWI story books and book bag books all progress cumulatively and are matched to the sound’s children are learning and already know to ensure all texts are phonetically decodable and children can achieve when reading. 

The teaching of phonics is of high priority across the whole school starting with our Nursery who participate in planned speaking and listening activities that are matched to their developing needs. The teachers draw upon observations and continuous assessments to ensure children are stretched and challenged and to identify children who may need additional support. Children in Nursery are then introduced to the RWI set 1 single sounds during the Summer term in preparation for Reception.  In Reception and Year One children continue to follow the Read Write Inc Programme.  We use the same scheme consistently from Nursery through to Year 2, and sometimes beyond, until children can read with accuracy and speed.