Reading and phonics
Reading
‘A book is a gift you can open again and again’ – Garrison Keillor
At the heart of our English curriculum is the intent to create a life—long love of reading for all children in our school. We strive to ensure children are enthused about books of all kinds and we understand the importance of this in developing their knowledge of the world around them, embracing diversity and encouraging curiosity
Our vision for English sets high expectations for all pupils, providing them with many opportunities to speak, read and write across a range of subjects.
See the below documents for more details on how we promote love for reading and our book-based curriculum.
Pupil thoughts on Reading at St Michaels
Phonics
At St Michael and All Angels, we believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. This is why we teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. We start teaching phonics in Reception, however children who attend our Pre-School will be taught Foundation for Phonics to prepare them for learning phonics when entering Reception class. We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds progression, which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.
As a result, all our children are able to tackle any unfamiliar words as they read. At St Michael and All Angels, we also model the application of the alphabetic code through phonics in shared reading and writing, both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on language development for our children because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.
-
Little Wandle Letter and Sounds Information for Parents in EYFS and Y1 The resources on this page will help you support your child with saying their sounds and writing their letters. There are also some useful videos so you can see how they are taught at school and feel confident about supporting their reading at home.
Phonics and Early Reading
Reading Comprehension
At St Michael and All Angels, we value reading as a crucial life skill. We aspire for all our children to read confidently for meaning and regularly enjoy reading for pleasure. Our readers are equipped with the tools to tackle unfamiliar vocabulary. We encourage our children to see themselves as readers for both pleasure and purpose.
Reading at Home
Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home.
There are two types of reading book that your child may bring home:
A reading practice book. This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. They should be able to read this fluently and independently. This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading. Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.
A sharing book. Your child may not be able to read this on their own. This book is for you both to read and enjoy together. In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together.
Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!
-
Tips for reading with your child Sharing a book with a child is fun! It's a time for closeness, laughing and talking together – and it can also give children a flying start in life and help them become lifelong readers. If you’re not feeling confident about reading aloud or sharing books, don’t worry – there’s no right or wrong way to enjoy a story together. But if you’d like some tips, here are a few pointers to help you out.
- Supporting Readers at Home Poster
- Book Chat Poster
- Book Chat Guide
- Everybody Read Leaflet for Parents
Reading Buddies
In year 5, children may be chosen as reading buddies. These children are given a responsibility to read with children in EYFS and KS1. Please see the attached link below for more information regarding this.
