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The Importance of Reading 

Of all the academic skills that we develop, reading is arguably the most important as it opens the window to so many other areas of the curriculum and supports almost every other area of knowledge that we cover. Perhaps more importantly, reading is the one area of the curriculum where parents play a crucial role within this development through supporting their child by reading at home. Not just hearing them read but by reading with them and developing a love of books. 

Our aim is that children leave KS1 with secure phonetic skills which enables the transition from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn’.  It will also support their journey to become free readers in KS2. 

We firmly believe that it is important to develop reading for pleasure so, that children see reading as a choice not just something they have to do in school.  Staff always model a love of reading and consider book choices carefully.  We also make time within the day to share longer texts with children.  Reading also plays a crucial part in the development of a child’s vocabulary and their ability to develop independent learning when at home.    

In-School Reading 

In Reception (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and 2), children will read with an adult at least twice a week.  This is in addition to any whole class reading that will take place during the week and daily ERIC (Everyone Reading In Class) opportunities for children to develop their independent reading skills. 

We use the Read Write Inc programme to deliver daily discreet phonics lessons, and this starts on day 1 in reception.  Reading books are carefully matched so that they catch a child’s phonetic knowledge. 

 We understand that effective, evidence-based reading instruction has five essential components: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.  We therefore ensure that our pupils are given lots of opportunities to listen to and read a wide range of texts.  Our daily phonics sessions are complimented by a literature-rich environment and by allowing our pupils to experience reading authentic literature and familiar materials in a variety of contexts across the curriculum. 

Early intervention for pupils with reading difficulties is crucial, and we ensure that these children are quickly identified so, we can put additional support in place to meet their needs. 

Further information is provided in the reading and phonics Curriculum documents which show how phonic sounds and reading skills are developed throughout a child’s time at Upwell.