Reading
At St Margaret’s CE Primary School, we want to encourage and develop a life-long love of reading. Being able to read underpins so much of the wider curriculum; understanding how we read is critical to children being successful not just in English lessons, but in all areas of their learning. We have taken an evidence-based approach to reading across the school, which means teachers read aloud to their classes daily, we use a whole class approach to guided reading lessons in key stage two, we utilise mixed ability pairings in key stage two, teachers guide and model how to read (demonstrating how their thinking works, what they do to make sense of a text).
Libraries
We are fortunate to have two libraries in school, one for our KS1 children and another for our KS2 children. Classes have a timetabled slot each week to ensure that they are able to take home books to read for pleasure. These are logged in school and reminders are sent home to return if needed. Children are welcome to take a book from a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts.
Class Readers
These books have been chosen to inspire and encourage reading. Teachers read to their classes daily at the end of the day and at speed. They are diverse and reflect the children that we have in the school so that children can see themselves represented in what we deliver in school.
Book Corners
In every classroom there is a book corner that has been stocked with books to excite and enthuse the children for reading. These are updated regularly and have sections themed along with a topic to encourage independent reading to deeper understanding. These book corners are filled with fictional and non-fictional texts to encourage reading for pleasure. Children are encouraged to share books they have read and recommend books to others and are welcome to take books from here, or our libraries to read at home.
Guided Reading Lessons
Guided reading lessons happen three times a week across the whole school and are taught whole class with mixed ability pairings. To support the children with their understanding, we use VIPERS question stems. All classes have physical books to use within these lessons which have been kindly donated by the PTA. By immersing children in the same text, a shared approach to learning is achieved. This means less confident readers are given the opportunity to learn from the responses of higher attaining children when engaging in a whole class discussion about a text. Teachers are expected to differentiate questions to suit the needs of all learners, ensuring all feel they can contribute to the lessons. All children are expected to read aloud in guided reading lessons and teachers then provide individual feedback.
