Last Updated: September 2023

Reading at Firs 

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.”— Dr. Seuss

At Firs , we recognise that reading is a key building block for learning and we aim to equip each and every pupil with the skills they need. This will allow them to enjoy reading for knowledge, as well as pleasure and enjoyment and to understand how to write with a sense of purpose and audience.

In Nursery there is a strong focus on Communication and  Language. High quality language provision includes sharing stories and poems, learning nursery and action rhymes and activities to develop focused listening and attention skills. Children are well prepared to begin learning grapheme-phoneme correspondences and blending.

In Reception children have daily phonics lessons which will begin late in the Autumn Term and have a clear focus on reading varied books over the year, they are read to daily. In reception we also focus on the children’s Communication and Language skills, ensuring they are fully embedded.

In KS1 and KS2, children have daily phonics lessons.  They are also read to daily, with books linked to topic or Pie Corbetts Reading Spine. Year 1 will also have extra 15 min phonics sessions daily.

At Firs we have a glorious library,  it is full of books which have been hand-picked to match our curriculum and accelerated reader. It aims to engage pupils at all reading levels. All classes in school have a library slot and visit the library weekly to explore the books and even take one back to their classrooms to read.

In the library we also have a reading club. Children can access this at lunchtimes, they can read books in there and collect awards for reading books.

Core books

Pie Corbett’s Reading Spine is a core of books that create a ‘living library inside a child’s mind. It is a store of classics and essential reads that help children engage at a deeper level and enter the world of the story’

Each class uses these books over the year with their classes. They may be used as a focus book for English or just read as a class reader. These books have been carefully selected by an literacy expert in the aim to foster a love of reading, deepen comprehension and expand children’s vocabulary.

Reading Books

At Firs, we also take the ‘2 book approach,’ to reading. This means the children take home at least one phonetically decodable reading book carefully matched to the sounds they are learning and a choice library book they have chosen for everyone at home to enjoy.

In Key Stage 2 and in Year 2, once they have come off the Read Write Inc scheme, we follow Accelerated Reader.

Accelerated Reader a computer programme that helps teachers to manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice.  Children are given a ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development) range to support them in finding a book matched to their reading level.  There will be a range of books within this level for the children to choose from.  When a book is finished, children will take a short quiz on a computer.  This quiz feedback provides a wealth of information for teachers and pupils to help them set goals for children’s reading and monitor their progress.

Children have time in school to read their independent reading book and this book is also bought home for additional reading practice

We also recognise that reading fluency can present a tricky barrier for those children who are learning English for the first time. We have an intervention programme within school that helps further support children with reading fluency. You can help at home by reading daily with your child.