Reading and Phonics

Reading

At Worlaby Academy we focus on building children’s fluency, confidence and enjoyment of reading from their foundation year in school. This continues through their school journey.

Early Reading

Pupils accessdaily, whole year group discrete phonics lessons in EYFS and Year 1, following the Department for Education validated scheme provided by ELS (Essential Letters and Sunds).  This has been designed to teach the children how to read through the act of decoding and blending. Additional small group or 1:1 sessions are completed as required. In KS2 children continue with phonics if necessary, through small group or 1:1 intervention.

Our early reading books are phonically decodable and organised in specific sets to provide fidelity to the ELS programme.

In EYFS and KS1 children are listened to in school every week in small groups and some 1:1, as well as encouraged to read regularly at home.

Reading for Pleasure

Children across the whole school have access to a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction books in order to support and promote a love of reading. There are books available in all classrooms and visible in the corridors. We have regular sessions listening to an adult read a story or piece of non-fiction, as well as events to endorse reading and books.

Towards the end of year 2 (if appropriate)and in KS2 the children continue to build their fluency through a wide variety of books and authors, based on a variety of recommendations, including national literacy and pupils voices. This provides independent choice for reading, thus upholding the academy focus of accessing books for pleasure. Like in EYFS and KS1, children in KS2 are encouraged to read these books regularly at home each week.

Comprehension Skills.

We will begin comprehension skills in EYFS using wordless books to develop discussion.

Children from an appropriate time in Year 1, up to Year 6 follow a Reading Strategy which is a trust-wide approach to develop reading comprehension skills. Using a trust wide approach enables a clear outlined structure for each text, teacher collaboration and development of resources, therefore developing confidence in the delivery high quality reading lessons.

The reading strategy takes place almost every day in KS2 and a minimum of 3 times a week in KS1.

It incorporates age-appropriate, challenging texts which are vocabulary rich, therefore encouraging responses using a greater range of vocabulary.

There is a clear focus on the different areas of comprehension skills which aims to develop depth within pupils reading/understanding.

All pupils are exposed to the high-quality texts and discussions, despite potential barriers to word reading and independent comprehension tasks.

Further support will be given as necessary, in word reading or comprehension. 

In KS2, reading comprehension and fluency is further developed following a computer-based initiative called Reading Plus. This is an individual programme accessed at home and school which gives bespoke, personalised instruction and intervention.