Snaresbrook Primary School

At Snaresbrook primary School we want to make sure that the teaching of reading focuses on developing the children's skills in:

Word reading

Comprehension (both listening and reading)

It is essential that, by the end of their primary education, all children can read fluently, and with confidence, so that they are empowered for their future education and for life.

To ensure the children are skilled readers we:

1. Have a whole school systematic phonics programme

The school uses Letters and Sounds. This breaks the words down into sounds and the children learn a new sound every day until they have developed a code for the 44 different sounds in English. As soon as children recognise sounds they use them to blend words and to start reading stories at their level. Children in Reception, Year 1, Year 2 have a daily reading skills lesson with a focus on decoding and comprehension skills.

2. Have a whole school Guided Reading programme

Each morning from 9:00-9:30 children work on a carousel of reading activities including a teacher led discussion group to develop comprehension skills and foster a love of reading.

3. Send reading books home every day

Nursery - Books for sharing are sent home for families to discuss and share stories to develop a love of reading.

Reception - Key word lists are sent home and children are given new words as they show that they are secure with the previous ones. Children are sent home reading books as the teacher feels it is appropriate to do so.

Key Stage 1 - Staged books from Oxford Reading Tree go home every night. These books are recorded in a reading record and can be changed in school when the book is signed by the parent/carer. Children continue to take home key word lists to learn. Some children are free readers and might choose a chapter book which interests them.

Key Stage 2 - Some children may need to continue to read staged books in the Oxford Reading Scheme. Other children are free readers and will choose a chapter book which interests them. Children do not change books unless they show that they have read and understood the current one.

4. Set targets for the children's reading so that they know what they have to do to improve.

5. Clear intervention procedures for the children falling behind.

6. Have enticing book corners in all classrooms and a well-stocked library which encourages the children to read. Each class is allocated a weekly library slot.

7. Developing a book approach to the curriculum, which really teaches children to appreciate and understand various texts. This includes knowing the author's intention, understanding structure and increasing language and vocabulary and how reading relates to writing.

8. DEAR (Drop Everything And Read). Opportunities for children to stop what they are doing and read a book for a sustained period of time.