When children have completed the Read, Write, Inc phonics programme, reading is developed during guided reading, using high quality texts and focused teaching.
At Ospringe Primary School, we have chosen to adopt Ashley Booth’s guided reading scheme for our Key Stage 2 children. This provides children with wide ranging opportunities to read and enjoy high quality fiction, poetry and non-fiction texts.
During whole class guided reading sessions, children work to develop and hone their key reading skills: decoding, vocabulary, inference, prediction, explanation, retrieval and summarising.
Children also continue to develop their reading fluency and pace, building upon their phonic knowledge and skills.
We recognise the importance of developing a rich and extensive bank of vocabulary; therefore, we discreetly teach vocabulary directly linked to the text during every phonics and guided reading session. This is reinforced daily during sessions, ensuring new vocabulary is embedded.
One of core beliefs as a school is that all children should experience the pleasure of being read to. Each teacher will select a book and read it aloud to their class each day, bringing the book to life through their expert and engaging delivery. We believe that all adults are role models who can excite, engage and inspire children to read for pleasure.
Reading at home is actively encouraged and promoted. Children working on the Read Write Inc. programme take home a ‘book bag book’ matched directly to their current phonic level and that they have practised in school. This book is intended to help build the children’s confidence and fluency as it has already been practised in school three times. In addition to this, children also take home a complimentary book, also matched directly to their current phonics level, that hasn’t been practised in school for them to share with you.
Following this, children work through our school reading scheme, 'Accelerated Reader' – these are levelled books which match the child’s current reading ability. Children from Key Stage 1 and 2 have access to the school library which is stocked with a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books. Our school library is run and maintained by our school librarians. Year 6 children can apply to be librarians as part of our school election process.
Regular practice at home cements the reading skills and strategies taught in school, encourages and instills a love of reading within children and facilitates family time and social interaction within the home.