At Bearpark Primary School we recognise the importance of reading as a skill that all children will use and need for the rest of their lives. Having invested heavily in resources for teaching, and created spaces for children to love reading, we timetable reading across the whole school so that children can improve their skills and love of books.
Parents Guide to Phonics teaching in Bearpark Primary
Children read in all curriculum areas, so there is an agreed approach to the teaching of it in Bearpark School. Beginning with Essential Letters and Sounds in Nursery gives our children the best start. Essential Letters and Sounds continues up to Year 2. As many of our children do not get the opportunity to love books and hear stories at home, we have a wide variety of books throughout our school, from themed books in the areas of learning in Early Years, through to Accelerated Reader books for children up to Year 6. This well-structured and progressive scheme allows staff to monitor the progress of all children as individuals.
In writing, we recognise that many children find holding pencils and pens difficult, and their writing style needs to be developed. We know that investing in gross and fine motor skill development from Early Years will improve that. Physical development and writing skills are inextricably linked. If we want to develop confident, independent writers who can sustain writing for significant lengths of time, then we must invest in the physical development of our children. Our Early Years is now set up to promote core strength through Dough Disco and a range of child-initiated stations for strengthening the upper body. For Years 1 to 6, we can improve this strength and co-ordination through specific physical activities, with some children requiring specific intervention to improve this.
We want Bearpark children to develop a love of writing. Of course, we want to include the technical components of writing that the National Curriculum dictates for each year group, but we will ensure that our children are writing for a purpose.
Reading for Pleasure at Bearpark Primary
- Reading for pleasure is a very important part of the curriculum at Bearpark Primary. A love of reading is essential for developing skills, knowledge and understanding in all other areas of the curriculum.
- As a school, we have invested heavily in time and resources to develop a ‘love of reading’ culture.
- Teachers discuss their reading interests and preferences with their class and produce a list of titles, with the children’s input, for their class library. This ensures that it is tailored to the interests of the children, relevant and contemporary.
- We cultivate a competitive ethos. Accelerated Reader keeps track of word count and quizzing accuracy. These are used to reward the children with a choice of their own book.
- We celebrate success by highlighting achievements through the school’s social media platform.
- Parents are invited into school to read with their children, during ‘Stay and Read’ sessions. This develops school-parent communication and links, and encourages greater engagement with reading at home. Feedback and parental involvement are strong.
- Fiction Express is accessible for children at home. The regular chapters are read and discussed in class.
- Text-based planning uses a varied selection of books to pique the interest of the children. This encourages them to become more committed to their learning, as they engage with texts over the course of weeks.
- A class reader, purely for pleasure, is read daily. This develops the children’s skills in prediction, justification, conversation and clarity, as they discuss their opinions and put forward their points of view.
- Children are encouraged to review their books and make recommendations for displays.
- Displays celebrate a love of reading, including pupils’ voice and the impact reading has had on their lives.