“Pupils should be taught to read fluently, understand extended prose (both fiction and non–fiction) and be encouraged to read for pleasure. Schools should do everything to promote wider reading. They should provide library facilities and set ambitious expectations for reading at home… Through reading in particular, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, plays a key role in such development. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. The programmes of study for reading at key stages 1 and 2 consist of two dimensions:
- word reading
- comprehension (both listening and reading).
Good comprehension draws from linguistic knowledge (in particular of vocabulary and grammar) and on knowledge of the world..”
(National Curriculum 2014)
Intent Statement
Learn to read… read to learn!
St. Gabriel’s strives to ensure all children leave our school as fluent readers so they can apply their reading skills across the wider curriculum, allowing them to access learning and succeed. We also aim to instil a love of reading so that children can access and read a wide variety of texts with stamina, enthusiasm and understanding.
To teach the fundamental process of learning to read, we have chosen to use the Read, Write, Inc. Phonics Programme. Children follow a comprehensively planned and sequenced approach to learn reading. Furthermore, we complement the teaching of reading with a range of matched reading books that the children read in school and at home. Please see our Phonics page for more information.
We foster positive attitudes towards reading and give children opportunities to develop their enjoyment for reading. At St. Gabriel’s we are committed to being reading models; giving the children an opportunity to hear a range of books, stories and text being read to them. Books are shared within all areas of the curriculum and English lessons use high quality texts to provide learning opportunities.
As a school, we seek to ensure children’s love of reading will extend far beyond the classroom and allow them to build on their skills independently through a real wonder and thirst for knowledge. We have a fantastic library that we are developing to provide our pupils with a diverse range of reading materials.
Reading Comprehension
The Read Write Inc programme teaches children the appropriate strategies in reading to help develop their comprehension skills, including word recognition, phonic skills and the use of picture and contextual cues. Building on this foundation, children move to a more formal programme of ‘English’ including reading for information and understanding (comprehension), grammar, spelling and writing for a range of purposes. Children learn through a VIPERS approach to comprehension – an anagram of the six areas of reading skill to master: Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval, Sequencing/Summarising. These areas develop in complexity from Year 1 to Year 6 and prepare children for the expectation of written responses at the end of KS2 and high school.
Intended Impact
During the children’s learning journey at St Gabriel’s, our intended impact of Read Write Inc and the teaching of reading is to ensure that children:
- read easily and fluently
- read confidently with good understanding and comprehension
- develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
- acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
- appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
Supporting the Love of Reading – how you can help
Here are 100 books that come recommended by the Book Trust. They are books to engage and excite children from Nursery to Year 6.
Please also visit your local library to see a huge range of books your child could choose from and enjoy.
We have put together a list of free e–books that you can use with your children.
- http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading–owl/find–a–book – You will need to join but it is free to use
- http://www.speakaboos.com/
- http://freekidsbooks.org/
- http://www.kidsworldfun.com/ebooks.php
- http://www.magickeys.com/books/
- http://www.megamousebooks.com/freebooklist.html
- http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/21465.Best_Free_Kindle_Ebooks_for_Children_ – You will need to join but it is free to use
- http://www.storylineonline.net/
- http://www.childrensbooksonline.org/library.htm
