Reading at Oughterside Foundation School

 

Why is reading so important?

There can be few things as powerful as regularly reading to a young child. It has astonishing benefits for children: comfort and reassurance, confidence and security, relaxation, happiness and fun. Giving a child time and full attention when reading them a story tells them they matter. It builds self-esteem, vocabulary, feeds imagination and even improves their sleeping patterns.

Regularly reading to a child for the love of it provides a connection between parent and child from the very early days and helps build strong family ties. Lines from favourite stories enter the family lexicon. Families who enjoy reading together have more opportunities for discussion, developing empathy and attachment. 

By starting the journey of building a lifelong love of reading for pleasure, parents are giving their child the opportunity to be the best they can be: children who read for pleasure do better in a wide range of subjects at school and it also positively impacts children’s wellbeing.

 

What are we doing in school?

Our library sits at the heart of our school and it is our belief that reading is at the heart of everything we do.

From the youngest age, in our two year old provision, children are read to and share library time, ensuring that books are an important feature of their day. Our EYFS classroom has an array of picture books that engage pupils and promote good use of vocabulary and questioning.

As the pupils progress through the Early Years, our love of picture books continue, but we also use the ‘Literary Curriculum’; accessing high quality books that engage pupils in literacy, but also gives them a stimulus to use in the wider continuous provision environment.

We have recently started our journey as a ‘Read, Write, Inc’ school, ensuring that phonics is taught consistently and effectively throughout EYFS and Key Stage 1. We also ensure that children who need support higher up the school, get what they require, at a level that is suitable to their needs.

As you move through the school, the Literary Curriculum continues to be used, ensuring that the texts that we access and the authors that we discuss, are exciting, from a range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds and also captivate our children; ensuring that they want to access the books and are desperate to hear ‘What happens next?’

This curriculum is subsidised by Accelerated Reader – used to assess our pupils and also give them the opportunity to test their comprehension of books that they read. It sets them challenges and gives them scope to speak to their class teachers about what they have understood. It also ensures that staff monitor engagement and gives them the opportunity to signpost pupils to genres that they may not be accessing.

In Years 5 and 6, our pupils also access ‘Reading Plus’, an online reading intervention that has shown excellent results with regards to improving reading stamina and understanding texts.

 

How can you, as a parent, help your child?

We will always work hard in school to help your child progress effectively, but your input at home is incredibly powerful and can help your child succeed.

 

• We ask that all children, read to a parent / carer / older sibling AT LEAST three times per week and record it in their reading journal. We will be running incentives to promote this in school.
• Story sacks are available to loan out – please ask us if you would like to borrow one.
• Support your child to engage in any literacy homework that they are set from school.
• Communicate with us if you have any issues, or concerns, regarding your child’s reading development.

 

 

Reading at Oughterside Foundation School

 

Why is reading so important?

There can be few things as powerful as regularly reading to a young child. It has astonishing benefits for children: comfort and reassurance, confidence and security, relaxation, happiness and fun. Giving a child time and full attention when reading them a story tells them they matter. It builds self-esteem, vocabulary, feeds imagination and even improves their sleeping patterns.

Regularly reading to a child for the love of it provides a connection between parent and child from the very early days and helps build strong family ties. Lines from favourite stories enter the family lexicon. Families who enjoy reading together have more opportunities for discussion, developing empathy and attachment. 

By starting the journey of building a lifelong love of reading for pleasure, parents are giving their child the opportunity to be the best they can be: children who read for pleasure do better in a wide range of subjects at school and it also positively impacts children’s wellbeing.

 

What are we doing in school?

Our library sits at the heart of our school and it is our belief that reading is at the heart of everything we do.

From the youngest age, in our two year old provision, children are read to and share library time, ensuring that books are an important feature of their day. Our EYFS classroom has an array of picture books that engage pupils and promote good use of vocabulary and questioning.

As the pupils progress through the Early Years, our love of picture books continue, but we also use the ‘Literary Curriculum’; accessing high quality books that engage pupils in literacy, but also gives them a stimulus to use in the wider continuous provision environment.

We have recently started our journey as a ‘Read, Write, Inc’ school, ensuring that phonics is taught consistently and effectively throughout EYFS and Key Stage 1. We also ensure that children who need support higher up the school, get what they require, at a level that is suitable to their needs.

As you move through the school, the Literary Curriculum continues to be used, ensuring that the texts that we access and the authors that we discuss, are exciting, from a range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds and also captivate our children; ensuring that they want to access the books and are desperate to hear ‘What happens next?’

This curriculum is subsidised by Accelerated Reader – used to assess our pupils and also give them the opportunity to test their comprehension of books that they read. It sets them challenges and gives them scope to speak to their class teachers about what they have understood. It also ensures that staff monitor engagement and gives them the opportunity to signpost pupils to genres that they may not be accessing.

In Years 5 and 6, our pupils also access ‘Reading Plus’, an online reading intervention that has shown excellent results with regards to improving reading stamina and understanding texts.

 

How can you, as a parent, help your child?

We will always work hard in school to help your child progress effectively, but your input at home is incredibly powerful and can help your child succeed.

 

• We ask that all children, read to a parent / carer / older sibling AT LEAST three times per week and record it in their reading journal. We will be running incentives to promote this in school.
• Story sacks are available to loan out – please ask us if you would like to borrow one.
• Support your child to engage in any literacy homework that they are set from school.
• Communicate with us if you have any issues, or concerns, regarding your child’s reading development.