IN THIS SECTION
Reading
At Walkergate Community School, we have a comprehensive English curriculum that places reading at its core. We believe in developing fluent readers who possess the ability to decode and comprehend a wide range of texts. Our aim is to foster a lifelong love for reading through the use of high-quality and engaging literature.
The Role of Reading in Our Curriculum
Reading plays a vital role in our curriculum as it forms the foundation for all other areas of learning. We understand that without competent reading skills, children may struggle to access information across various subjects and understand vocabulary across the curriculum. Therefore, we place a strong emphasis on equipping our students with the necessary tools to become competent readers, to develop and widen children’s vocabulary, by the time they leave our school.
Reading Spine
One of the cornerstones of our curriculum is the use of high-quality texts from Nursery to Year 6. The reading spine has been carefully developed and is comprised of literature that is engaging, diverse, and thought-provoking. These texts not only enhance reading skills but also serve as a gateway to other subjects, broadening children’s knowledge and understanding of the world. By exposing our pupils to a wide range of literature, we aim to develop lifelong readers who seek out books for pleasure and enrichment. We foster a love for reading by providing opportunities for our students to explore different genres, authors, and styles of writing. We also celebrate reading achievements and encourage students to share their recommendations with each other.
Reciprocal Reading
Fluency and comprehension are two key elements of reading that we focus on in our curriculum. We understand that fluency is the ability to read effortlessly and accurately, while comprehension involves understanding and making meaning from what is read. In order to develop fluency, we provide our students with a wide range of reading materials, including fiction and non-fiction texts. Our daily reading lessons enable them to practice decoding words and reading with expression. Comprehension skills are further honed through whole-class and small-group discussions about the texts that have been read. We encourage our pupils to delve deeper into the meaning of the text, to ask questions, make predictions, and draw conclusions. We also teach them to use various strategies such as summarizing, visualising, and making connections to further enhance their comprehension abilities.
In conclusion, our English curriculum places reading at its very heart. By developing fluency and comprehension skills through high-quality texts, we aim to cultivate a love for reading that will stay with our students throughout their lives. We firmly believe that reading empowers individuals, broadens horizons, and opens doors to endless possibilities.
Writing
We believe that reading and writing go hand in hand. We recognise that by fostering a love for reading in our pupils, we are also nurturing their potential as skilled writers. In order to achieve this, we carefully select high quality, captivating literature that is appropriate for their age group. By immersing themselves in these texts, our pupils are inspired to develop their own writing style and voice.
By exposing our pupils to various genres and writing styles, we create a stimulating environment that motivates them to write. Opportunities for extended writing are carefully planned across school and have a clear audience, purpose, and role, ensuring that writing is both meaningful and enjoyable. Whether it is crafting a persuasive argument or creating an imaginative narrative, our pupils are encouraged to explore their creativity and express their thoughts and ideas through writing.
We take great pride in the written work produced by our pupils, and we encourage them to take pride in it as well. We believe that effective communication is crucial in both spoken and written language. Our students understand that being able to express themselves clearly and accurately is an essential skill that will serve them well throughout their lives. By instilling this understanding in them from a young age, we prepare them to become confident communicators, both in writing and in speaking.
Phonics
Read, Write Inc. Phonics
At Walkergate Community School we follow Read, Write Inc. phonics, a high-quality systematic phonics programme that gives children the best possible start to their reading.
This is a structured approach that takes children through their phonics learning from teaching children sets of sounds and the letters that represent them, how to form the letters and then blend them to read words. The books that children read in school, and at home, contain the sounds they’ve already learned, so children learn quickly and confidently.
EYFS
In Nursery pupils are introduced to the Set 1 sounds and rhymes in Summer Term. In Reception, pupils are taught a daily phonics lesson and are taught how to say, read and write the sounds, then how to blend the sounds to read words.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, pupils are taught a daily phonics lesson where their phonics skills from Reception. Pupils continue to learn the Set 2 sounds, and learn the Set 3 sounds and alternate spelling patterns. When children are confident at decoding and can read with fluency they move onto Read, Write Inc. Comprehension.
At the end of Year 1, pupils take the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check. This is a short assessment to confirm whether children have learnt phonic decoding to an age-related standard. Working 1:1 with their teacher, children will read 40 words, some of which are real and some of which are pseudo words (nonsense/’alien’ words) containing the 40+ phonemes they have learnt throughout Early Years and Year 1. Children will receive a mark and parents will be notified at the end of the year if this meets the expected standard. Those children who do not will receive extra phonics support in Year 2 and will take the screening at the end of the following year.
Key Stage 2
Any children who need support with their decoding and fluency skills in Key Stage 2 are taught Read, Write Inc. phonics as an intervention programme. This provides children with the essential knowledge and skills to succeed in this vita skills.
Phonics Resources and Workshops
You can find information and resources to support your child with their phonics and early reading skills at https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/reading-schemes-oxford-levels/read-write-inc-phonics-guide/
We offer workshops and training for parents to understand how they can help their child at home with their phonics and reading. These take place on both of our school sites. Please look out for dates in the newsletters or on separate letters for these events.