Reading

Reading at St John's

Intent

The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.

 We strive to develop a love for reading and ensure that all our pupils become confident and proficient readers. We aim to inspire a lifelong passion for reading and to equip our pupils with the necessary skills to access a wide range of texts, both fiction and non-fiction. We believe that reading is a fundamental skill that underpins all areas of learning and therefore it is at the heart of our curriculum.

Implementation

Early Years Foundation Stage / Key Stage 1 Reading 

Our core tool for reading in EYFS/ KS1 is Monster Phonics, however other schemes are also used and fit within the book banded system once children have mastered phonemes/graphemes/spelling patterns that our outlined within the Monster Phonics Placement test. Key skills and techniques are modelled and taught throughout Key Stage One and Key Stage Two. Parents/carers are encouraged to share books, read to and listen to their child read at home daily.

Key Stage 2 Reading – Accelerated Reader

Once a child has completed the monster phonics programme and the class teacher feels they are ready, they may begin using Accelerated Reader. Each half-term, the children will complete a Star Reader test on a computer and this will give a ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development) score. This score gives them a range of books that they can choose from to read. Once they have finished the book, the children complete an Accelerated Reader quiz in school (this should hopefully be taken within 24 hours of completing a book where possible). Children should aim to score approximately 85% + on this quiz. If below this, the book may be too high, and this should be evaluated by the child’s teacher (this may mean they choose a book within their ZPD that they are more comfortable with and discuss this with the class teacher/ teaching assistant). Our aim is for children to feel enthused, happy, and excited to read therefore providing the right level of challenge. According to research carried out by Renaissance Learning, children who read for at least 25 minutes a day with a 90% comprehension rate on quizzes see the greatest gains in reading. At St Johns, we have many opportunities during the school day for reading including guided reading and independent reading but also ask parents and carers to encourage their children to read at home for at least 15-20 minutes per day.

Impact

Improved enagagement in reading: 

• AR motivates students to read more by offering a choice of books at their reading level and rewarding their progress.
• The gamified aspect (e.g., earning points and achieving goals) can make reading fun for young learners, fostering a love for reading.
•   The AR platform supports thousands of books across different genres and topics, catering to diverse student interests.
•  Encouraging students to explore varied genres can broaden their horizons and develop lifelong readers.

Enhanced reading comprehension:

• The quizzes at the end of each book assess comprehension, ensuring that students not only read but also understand the material.
• This regular feedback loop helps pupils and teachers identify areas for improvement. 

Tailored reading practice:

• AR determines each student’s reading level through a STAR Reading Assessment and recommends books within their "zone of proximal development" (ZPD).
• This personalized approach ensures that children are challenged without being overwhelmed, leading to gradual skill improvement.

Our reading lead at St John's is Miss Brady, please feel free to ask any questions you may have.