Reading

We love to read in the Early Years. We have lovely book areas with a wide range of books both fiction and non-fiction and we also enjoy weekly visits to our school library. We enjoy regular story sessions throughout the day and always share a lovely story before we go home.

We develop a love of books and literature by having high quality texts in the classroom and using these in our lessons. Underpinning our literacy curriculum is the importance of talk. We promote and model good listening skills and extend the range of vocabulary through quality back and forth interactions. We encourage children to talk about stories and to give their own opinions about stories read. We also model how to use drama and role-play to re-tell stories and events, taking on the role of a familiar character. 

We encourage children to listen to and join in with a wide variety of stories, rhymes and poems. We use 'call and response' to help children learn the rhythm, identify pairs of rhyming words and predict the word that will come next. We help children learn poems and rhymes by heart which they can then recite and perform to others. 

In Reception class, our children bring home decodable books from our Read Write Inc scheme. These books are matched to their phonic abilities and contain the sounds they have been taught in their lessons in school. Children also bring home a book that they have chosen from our library or book corner to share at home. Children read regularly with an adult at school and we ask that parents listen to their child read at home.

Daily reading both at home and at school has an enormous impact on progress, confidence and positive attitudes. Children who become engaged in their reading can make huge progress in their literacy development and other areas of learning.

Talking about stories and hooking children into the enjoyment reading can bring, is a big focus of our work. We use quality texts to support our learning in all curriculum areas. 

Please see below useful information about reading and advice on how you can support at home.

If you have any questions about how we teach reading please speak to a member of our team. We are always happy to help and value the importance of home / school partnership. 

Please find below an example of some useful questions to use when reading with your child.