Reading at Brook Lodge
Research shows that when phonics is taught in a structured way, starting with the easiest sounds and progressing through to the most complex, it is the most effective way of teaching young children to read. It is particularly helpful for 5- to 7-year-old children.
Phonics
At Rainford Brook Lodge, we use the ‘Read Write Inc’ programme to deliver phonics. All children across KS1 are streamlined into groups according to their current ability. This ensures children are targeted at their own level, which enables them to gain confidence and fluency in reading and writing all of the graphemes, including additional sounds.
Reading Books
Children in Reception and KS1 are given two books to take home. The ‘Book Bag Books’ link directly to their Read Write Inc group and are fully decodable, including the sounds they already know or have learnt that week. They are only changed once a week so children can gain fluency and confidence when reading the story, whilst developing comprehension skills too. Additionally, the children also take home the RWI book that they have read during their RWI sessions. This encourages independence as we expect the children to be able to read this independently.
Pleasure books are also sent home. This book is chosen by the child and is aimed at developing a love of reading as well as exposing the children to a wide range of genres. This book may provide further challenge but will most certainly encourage family time; the book can be enjoyed alongside peers and adults.
Here at Brook Lodge, we have invested a considerable amount of money to developing our library. All children now have access to a ‘levelled’ book which provides them with suitable challenge and immerses them in a rich vocabulary. Our aim is to help them further develop their reading skills in a structured and progressive way using the reading scheme and develop a love of reading through exploring a range of genres such as non-fiction, fantasy, historical narratives, poetry and classics. The choice is endless!
100 Books
Alongside the levelled books, children are encouraged to take home a reading book for ‘pleasure’. Every year group has access to an amazing library of books aimed at their key stage which include the most popular 100 books throughout the years – from ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ to ‘Great Expectations’. Children can then, as well as working through a progressive structured scheme, be exposed to high quality and popular texts at an age appropriate level giving the children a greater choice of texts and letting them develop their own interests and love of reading.
How do we ensure your child makes good progress?
Children are assessed every half term, therefore our groupings are fluid. This ensures that any child, who makes significant progress within a group, is allowed to progress at the earliest opportunity.
Children have the opportunity to read with an adult every week on a one to one basis. Therefore, progress is regularly monitored and children move up the book bands/levels quickly.
Children’s comprehension skills are assessed at the end of each term using a more formal test as well as ongoing assessments by staff hearing them read.
All of our staff are committed to improving standards of reading from the early stages through to developing lifelong lovers of books! We want our children to LOVE to read!
For more information about phonics and how to help your child, read the download from the Department for Education, Information for parents and also visit the class pages in the children’s section in EYFS and KS1.
Files to Download
