CAPTAIN WEBB PRIMARY SCHOOL AND NURSERY
Reading Curriculum Statement
Reading Curriculum Statement
Intent
At Captain Webb, we value reading as a key life skill and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers. We want all of our children to be confident fluent readers who read widely, read often, read for pleasure and read to learn. We want them to be exposed to a variety of literature, genres and authors.
We believe that the teaching of reading is integral to a child’s understanding and appreciation of the world around them. We aim to provide children with experiences that will lead to rich language development so that at the end of their primary education with us, they are empowered with a breadth of vocabulary that they can build on in their future prospects.
Our reading curriculum strives to foster a love for reading and we believe that that all children should experience an abundance of quality, engaging texts across the curriculum.
We want reading to be the golden thread running through a child’s journey at Captain Webb. When they leave us, we want pupils to possess the reading skills and love of literature which will help them to enjoy and access any aspects of learning they encounter in the future.
Implementation (Planning an inclusive curriculum).
Our inclusive knowledge-based curriculum plans for success. We teach the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. This enables our pupils to know more and remember more. End points within objectives are identified for each year group through a whole school reading progression plan. Please click the link below for further information.
We feel passionately that developing a love of reading from an early age will benefit our children hugely: personally, socially and educationally. Therefore, reading is at the heart of everything we do. Through the use of carefully chosen texts, we expose our children to literature that will spark their passions and develop a love of English. Click the link below to find out the rationale behind our Reading curriculum.
Phonics & Reading
Through the delivery of our reading curriculum we ensure a consistent and robust teaching and learning of early reading and phonics in the Early Years and Key Stage One, so that pupils are able to read with increased speed and fluency and access the wider curriculum. We follow the Read, Write Inc Phonics programme; a systematic, synthetic phonics scheme that is validated by the Department for Education. Skilled staff deliver daily sessions to ensure rapid progression. Children’s progress through the scheme is assessed continuously to ensure that gaps are addressed quickly and effectively. Books that children read match their level of phonetic knowledge. Skilled reading depends on both fluency and phonic knowledge alongside language comprehension. For more information on the teaching of Phonics, please click on the link below which will transfer you to our Phonics curriculum page.
Once children have graduated from the RWI scheme, and are able to decode accurately and speedily, reading a lot is the principal way they develop as readers. Putting in the ‘reading miles’ allows pupils to practise their reading, building experience with increasingly complex texts, encountering new knowledge, gaining new language, including vocabulary, and developing their fluency.
Over the course of year 2 and into key stage 2, the focus of the teaching of reading therefore shifts from decoding towards ensuring pupils get this print experience and support with spoken language, both through teacher-led whole class reading sessions and independent reading. Children explore a broad range of challenging texts including fiction, non-fiction and poetry by having purposeful and in-depth discussions with the teacher and their peers to enable them to access the vocabulary, themes and content.
Please click on the Year 2 and KS2 reading long term overview below to find out more about the texts your child will be reading.
KS2 Reading Learning Sequence
Book Warmers
At the beginning of our reading units, we explore the main themes, contexts and background information to help the pupils have a foundational understanding of the text before they begin reading. For example, when the text was written, any settings / countries the text takes place and any cultural and social conventions that may be outlined within a text. These introductory sessions are called 'book warmers' and the pupils have an opportunity to read facts and information about the text as well as use iPADs to access QR codes that link to webpages to further videos and explanations. Most importantly, the book warmers will introduce the pupils to tier 3 vocabulary (subject specific words) that they will come across in subsequent lessons.
Vocabulary Lab
The teaching of vocabulary is at the forefront of all our daily reading lessons. Tier 2 and tier 3 vocabulary is identified within texts and definitions are provided with picture examples to enhance pupil's understanding of these words. The vocabulary is explored and discussed as the pupil's read to enhance pupil's language development and comprehension.
Teaching Prosody
All reading sessions focus on improving reading fluency and pupils will listen to the teachers read aloud with expression and intonation. The pupils are taught prosody through a variety of fluency strategies such as echo read, choral read and reader's theatre. They have daily opportunities to re-read the text on their own or with a partner.
Fluent and expressive reading (prosody!) is inextricably linked to comprehension. Why? Because prosody helps children build a more complete and accurate picture of what’s being conveyed on the page. How we adapt the pace, emphasis, phrasing and intonation of our reading helps communicate the broader and deeper meaning of what we read. Recent research from the EEF backs this up, finding that prosodic reading improves a child’s comprehension and overall literacy achievement in school.
The pupils also have an opportunity to re-read the text at home as part of their reading homework.
Understanding of the text
On day 1 of our 2 day sequence, the teacher ask questions and models thought processes as they read to enhance pupil's comprehension. The dialogic talk between the adult and pupils is a priority for this session, the teacher explicitly teaches comprehension skills relevant to the extract. These specific comprehension skills are taught using VIPERS reading domains (vocabulary, inference, prediction, explanation, retrieval and summary) On day 2 of our sequence, the teacher models the answering of written comprehension questions based on the extract they have previously read on day one. Teachers plan questions focusing on mixed domains. Pupils complete the questions independently.
Quick Quiz and Summarise
The reading lessons also include quick quizzes with the focus predominantly upon the quick recall of key facts/key information. (retrieval questions) The pupils talk with a partner to talk about what has happened, what they already know and summarise any key events or facts.
Daily Story Time
We place reading at the heart of the curriculum, so it is prioritised allowing pupils to access the full curriculum offer. All pupils receive daily story time sessions with an adult modelling fluency and intonation. The pupils listen to a wide range of stories that have all been carefully selected and chosen for their year groups. All texts are outlined in our whole school reading spine, at the top of this webpage.
Reading for Pleasure
Embedding a school culture that values and supports reading for pleasure is extremely important to us. Pupils develop a love of reading; a broad knowledge of authors and understand more about the world in which they live to widen their horizons and raise their aspirations. To enable this, we set aside time for pupils to enjoy and read books independently, discuss texts they are reading and share recommendations. The love2read session is timetabled for all classes once a week and also sets time for pupils to visit our newly refurbished school library. The children can enjoy the freedom of enjoying texts in a tranquil, child centred environment. All classrooms have attractive book corners where the children have access to 100 quality books, both fiction, non-fiction and poetry books to help embed their love of books, stories and reading. Around school, you will find displays which celebrate authors - including our author of the term displays, pupil’s favourite books, authors and recommended reads.
Reading across the curriculum
Reading is prioritised across our broad and balanced curriculum allowing pupils to read and understand all subjects. Pupils are also expected to read in other subjects to access new information and build their subject knowledge. This reading will also contribute to reading miles and fluency.
All subject areas have a recommended text list for all year groups attached to their subject curriculum map.
Poetry and Rhymes
Through sharing, reading, writing and performing rhymes and poems, we aim to build children’s emotional connection to language and the world around us.
Poems are used throughout our curriculum to develop vocabulary, fluency and prosody, imagination and empathy. We also encourage children to review poetry – to form opinions about their own likes and dislikes and to understand and explain their preferences and respect the thoughts and feelings of others.
We are committed as a school to developing a love of reading and to reading aloud each day. Alongside our class reading texts, we have four class poetry books to be shared throughout the year. Of course, teachers can add to the core books to further develop children’s exposure and enjoyment of poetry.
We have identified a core set of poems for each year group. Each year group will learn by heart poems to be performed for assembly or to be shared with parents or visitors. Children will also be encouraged to revisit poems previously learnt.
Each year group will also study a varied selection of poems during guided reading lessons, where vocabulary and meaning can be explored and explained, together with the development of children’s wider reading skills.
Poetry also forms part of our writing curriculum and each year group has different forms of poetry to explore and create. This allows children the opportunity to learn more about particular structures of poetry and allows them to write their own poems using a wide range of poetic devices. Children are encouraged to perform their own poetry alongside the poems learnt by their year group.
We also seek opportunities throughout the year for children to watch or hear poets reciting and discussing their own work.
Please see our Poetry Curriculum Map for further information.
Assessment
At all stages, reading attainment is assessed to ensure that gaps are addressed quickly and effectively so that pupils’ progress is accelerated. Targeted support and intervention for reading is a priority – we have a dedicated reading team who ensure any child falling or a risk of falling behind their peers is identified. RWI Fast Track tutoring breaks phonics into small steps to support every child with decoding, including those with SEND. There is a sharp focus on ensuring pupils gain fluency and phonic knowledge alongside language comprehension as modelled by the Scarborough Reading Rope (2001).
In KS2, reading fluency is assessed at the beginning of each half term using oral reading fluency (ORF) measures. ORF assessments measure reading rate and accuracy and are expressed in terms of the number of words read correctly per minute (wcpm). On average, pupils should read at least 90 words per minute. Any pupils who require further support with their reading fluency are provided with additional reading practice. During this interventions, the pupils re-read passages using strategies such as echo read and timed reads. Our aim is to ensure all pupils leave our school fluent, confident readers as we know oral reading fluency has consistently been found to have a high correlation with reading comprehension.
During whole class reading sessions, formative assessment takes place daily, while termly summative assessment takes place in the form of NFER testing which allows analysis of gaps in comprehension knowledge to be quickly addressed.
All pupils are also assessed on their reading of the common exception words for their year group. Please see the spelling curriculum page for these word lists.
How do we enrich the curriculum?
Book recommendation boards are displayed throughout school to inform pupils of new and popular texts across the age ranges. The children are given the opportunity to loan these books from Mrs Passey and write reviews on these books for our school newsletter.
At Captain Webb, we also have a range of opportunities within the academic year to further enhance reading opportunities for our children. Regular trips to the local library, engaging with national reading events including World Book Day, Roald Dahl Day and National Poetry day. Each year we invite external theatre companies into school to deliver whole school productions and drama workshops for our pupils, recent examples of which are Christmas Carol and Jack and the Beanstalk.
We have also had Dance workshops based on 'Bringing Books to Life'. Year 3 story focus was Charlie and the chocolate factory, Year 4 focus was Alice in Wonderland and Year 5 focus was The Jungle Book.
How can you help your child?
EYFS and KS1
To support their reading journey your child will bring home two books home. The first book will be a fully decodable book matched to your child’s phonic knowledge. When your child is in the early stages of learning to read you can help by encouraging them to sound out the letters in words and then to ‘blend’ the sounds together to make a whole word. Please refer to the Phonics Curriculum page on the school website for further support on early reading strageties.
The second book will be a picture book for you to share at bedtime. This is an opportunity to share a love of reading with your child, talk about the story and offer opinions.
KS2
All pupils in KS2 will bring home a copy of their whole class novel to read at home. The class teacher will provide information in regards to homework expectations for reading the guided reading text. E.g. We would like you to read chapters 1 – 3 tonight. We also encourage all pupils to loan books from our school library to enjoy at home. In response to a recent parent's survey, we will also be sending home an additional text from our 100 books for our pupils to read at home.
The school’s Homework Policy states that all children are expected to read at home every day. This is for a maximum of 10 minutes. Reading regularly at home helps to develop children’s reading skills.
Making the time to talk to your children about the books they choose and listening to them reading aloud regularly can make all the difference. Children need to understand why we read. They need to experience the range of feelings that a book can create or the power that can be gained from accessing information. Reading must not only be confined to stories. Many children love reading comics, magazines, newspapers, information books and poetry. All of these reading activities should be encouraged.
Children in Key Stage 2 will all be at very different stages of development, but even for the most fluent readers there is a need for parental support. Most parents or carers are able to create quality time to share a book individually with one child. This is the time when children can develop a much deeper understanding of the books that they are reading. Rather than reading at home being ‘reading practice’, it should extend and enrich the reading experiences of school.
One of the most powerful ways in which parents can do this is to show real enthusiasm themselves. Your sense of excitement about books and stories, your anticipation about what will happen next in a story and a discussion about your own likes and dislikes, will greatly influence your child.
Teachers will check the Home School Reading Record daily and record for our end of term reading rewards including books, book vouchers or an author visit .
This year we celebrated National Poetry Day with a very special guest. A well-known poet called James Carter. He worked with all year groups to create different types of poetry including rhyme, similes, kennings and cinquains.
Please see the video clips below of our wonderful work.
Impact
By the time children leave Captain Webb, they are competent readers who can recommend books to their peers, have a thirst for reading a range of genres including poetry, and participate in discussions about books, including evaluating an author’s use of language and the impact this can have on the reader. They can also read books to enhance their knowledge and understanding of all subjects on the curriculum, and communicate their research to a wider audience.
‘I go to Phonics every day to learn my sounds. I can now read words and I’ve just moved to Yellow phonics books.’ – Year 1 pupil.
‘I’ve read many books since I’ve been at Captain Webb. Some of my favourite texts are Stig of the Dump by Clive King, Harry Potter by JK Rowling and Street Child by Berlie Doherty.’ –Year 6 pupil.
‘This year, I’ve enjoyed reading lots of different non-fiction texts. I’m currently reading a non-fiction text on the heart and circulatory system which has helped me answer questions in Science.’ Year 5 pupil.
Attainment in reading is measured using statutory assessments such as the end of EYFS and Key Stage 2 and following the outcomes in the Year 1
Phonics Screening check.
Assessment data shows that..
90% of children passed the Year 1 Phonics Screening check in 2023.
72% reached ARE at KS2 with 28% reaching greater depth.
The impact of this implementation was also noted in our 2019 OFSTED:
The teaching of reading is done very well. Staff are trained in how to teach phonics and daily routines and systems make sure everyone gets what they need. Whether reading in class or at home, staff check that pupils have books they understand. If any pupil needs a helping hand, adults find extra time straight away and this stops them from falling behind. As pupils’ confidence grows, teachers introduce them to new books and authors. Most days, teachers read to the class during ‘page-turner time’. They encourage pupils to talk about books and share their views.
