We follow The Read Write Inc (RWI) phonics programme in school. This begins as soon as the children start school in reception and continues in year one and two and where appropriate sometimes in year three. Those children on the RWI programme are assessed each half term and grouped according to their reading ability. Those not making expected progress are swiftly given increased opportunities for additional learning.

 Our reading programme is tightly matched to our phonics teaching. Children read daily in guided groups. In the Early Years and in KS1, when children are at the decoding stage of reading, the books used in guided sessions are fully phonically decodable books. This enables the children to use their knowledge of phonemes to decode words. The teaching of high frequency words or tricky words at each stage of the Read Write Inc Programme also supports the reading development. We have a full range of phonetically decodable  books for children to read in school. We have a huge range of phonetically decodable RWI books. Throughout both of these schemes there is a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. We also pay for an online subscription. 

All children across the school have daily Guided Reading sessions every day. Each class structures the lesson into a carousel of activities. This includes a group reading with the class teacher, a group reading with a teaching assistant and a group that can simply enjoy selecting a book they would like to read and enjoy.  As the children develop their ability to decode phonetically the comprehension of text increases in importance with guided sessions focused on inference and deduction, developing a wider vocabulary and broadening their knowledge of authors, genres and themes.

Teachers read good quality texts to the children as part of their literacy lessons and during story time. All classes have story time at the end of the school day where there are opportunities to read a variety of stories and poetry. 

We invest in the Telford and Wrekin Library Service, which enables us to have a different selection of books each half term and topic books that regularly relate to the themes that are being taught. Books in year2,  3 and 4 have been recently banded to ensure that children, when they become a free reader, can be directed to a book appropriate for their reading ability. Plans are in place for this to be repeated in year 5 and 6.

Each class has its own Reading Corner, matched to the children’s ages and interests. This also includes their class set of reading spine texts. These are texts which have been carefully selected for each group, showcasing 'top reads' for their age. 

All children have a wide choice range of colour branded fiction and non-fiction books to take home. Teachers inform the parents weekly, via the Reading Record, about the learning taking place in the Guided Reading sessions. Parents are encouraged to make comments in their Reading Records. 

Aims

• Be able to read in ways that ensure learning across the curriculum;
• Encourage all children to enjoy reading;
• Be able to read with fluency and confidence;
• See reading as enjoyable, rewarding and worthwhile;
• Be able to gain access to a wide range of reading materials for different purposes;
• Become critical readers: increasingly able to see how texts create effects and meanings; able to place their own ideas, experiences and values in relation to those of the text;
• Use phonic strategies to decode words;
• In Reception and Key Stage 1 and when appropriate lower Key Stage 2, we have daily discrete phonic sessions;
• Throughout the school we have daily guided reading sessions outside of the Writing session;
• The teacher plans and leads this making use of different types of questions related to the assessment focuses;
• The teacher records observations from these sessions to inform assessments;
• Teachers and teaching assistants also listen to children read individually as often as possible and record.