Reading

Our aim at the Mill is to help every child become a skilled reader with a real love of reading.

Phonics 

At the Mill we use Read Write Inc (RWI) as our way to teach EYFS and KS1 children to read. RWI is a phonics complete literacy programme which helps all children learn to read fluently and at speed so they can focus on developing their skills in comprehension, vocabulary and spelling. It uses a systematic and structured system every day which meets the demands of the national curriculum, and gives every child the best chance of success.

The children are taught a 40 minute session each morning which covers learning a new sound, reviewing previously taught sounds, reading the new and review sounds in real words and ‘nonsense’ words and spelling words with those sounds. The children then read a phonetically decodable book based on their ability, and work on fluency and comprehension in pairs. The lively phonic books are closely matched to their increasing knowledge of phonics and ‘tricky’ words and, as children re-read the stories, their fluency increases. Children who struggle to pick up new sounds quickly additionally receive one to one tutoring three times a week to fill any sound gaps.

Beyond The Basics

In addition to our Read Write Inc programme of phonics which helps children learn the mechanics of how to read, we have a broad reading offer.

Class books

At the end of every day, teachers read class books to the children. We have designed our progression of books with a broad range of authors - female, male, from other cultures including a mix of classic, older and newer writers, which in turn can inspire the children with their own reading choices.

Books home

Our younger children take home a phonetically decodable book pitched at their current level of phonics to read three times to build fluency, alongside a book to share with their adults. Our older children take home books in their reading zone.  A reading journal for each child means that they, their adults and teachers can share their thoughts on their books and their progress.

Encouraging reading

Each class has a book corner with a wide variety of books to choose from.  We have a fantastic central library that children love and use on a frequent basis. We make sure we never run out of books that children can and want to read. All children will read during each school day, and read to an adult at school at least weekly.  We also have a book vending machine, an incentive from which children love to choose a book to keep.

Teaching reading - Whole Class reading

Each day has a whole class taught reading session where children and teachers explore a great variety of texts, which rotating on a programme focusing on questions on the text, exploring reading and comprehension skills, characters, contexts and wider concepts through a shared understanding within the class.  Many of the books that the extracts are taken from are available for the children to read, having had a taster in class.

Teaching reading - Individual reading practice

There is a daily reading session for all children who have completed the Read Write Inc phonics programme.  The children choose and read books within their Accelerated Reader band, and are helped and encouraged to select and enjoy titles which will nurture both their skills and love for reading.

Parents’ engagement

Our first Parents’ Evening concentrates on reading. We explain and encourage our approach and your own child’s reading age. We will take you through the data we collect on reading. This is their key to future educational success.  We stress the importance of the children reading home with an adult, or, especially with the older children, to themselves.  The reading journal contains advice on home reading, as well as being a place to share comments.

Vocabulary

We use key words in all our curriculum areas and have developed our own child-friendly definitions for these - a similar approach to that found in the whole class reading sessions.  This is an important first step towards an ever-increasing vocabulary and models the love and use of language that we want your children to develop.

A love of varied reading means that our children will encounter and absorb many more words and ideas - the key to becoming a skilled reader and to a successful education, as well as an aim in itself.

Subject Lead: Andrew Fenton

Phonics Lead: Abbie Kaye