Through reading in particular, we intend for children to have the opportunity to develop spiritually, culturally, emotionally, intellectually and socially. Literature, particularly, plays a vital role in such development and therefore we have put literature at the heart of our curriculum as a tool for which to explore all other subjects through. We use the Rising Stars scheme to ensure that children’s books are matched to their knowledge in phonics.

We also aim to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment as modelled by adults. We also intend our reading curriculum to enable children both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know and have an appreciation for the rich, diverse and subject specific vocabulary that they will encounter throughout the rest of the Bishop Ellis curriculum and beyond into further study because we understand that reading extensively and frequently increases pupils’ vocabulary because they meet words they would seldom hear or use in everyday speech. We intend our reading curriculum to fire children’s imagination and create a genuine sense of awe and wonder in God’s world.

Children are taught key reading skills progressively.

Reception, children will be taught phonics, a method of learning to read words. They learn to read letters by saying the sounds they represent. They can then start to read words by blending individual sounds together to make words. Alongside learning to decode the words on the page, children will also learn comprehension skills. This helps them to make sense of what the words say and what the text means. Together, these skills will help our children on their way to becoming keen and confident readers.

Year 2 – By Year 2, children will be building up a range of reading skills. They should have strong phonics knowledge and growing comprehension skills, which will help them read more broadly, confidently, and fluently.

Year 6 – By Year 6, children will hopefully be reading independently at home and school for lots of different reasons. Some children may still be reluctant to read adventurously and can get stuck on one author, series, or type of book. Having favourites is great, but Year 6 is also a good time to push the boundaries and read new genres and forms.