Reading
At Highfield our fundamental aim is for all pupils to be able to read fluently and confidently. In order to develop their love of reading we encourage all children to read for enjoyment across a wide range of texts and genres for pleasure as well as information.
The importance of reading cannot be underestimated – for children’s grammar and vocabulary development, for their knowledge and understanding of the world and the relationships that form our lives, for their imagination, for children’s overall educational attainment, for their personal development and as an essential skill that underpins all other aspects of their life long learning.
At Highfield a firm foundation in this crucial area of the curriculum is reinforced by a consistent whole school approach to the teaching of reading. Success in reading has a direct impact on progress in all other areas of the curriculum.
From Nursery to Year 6 our children are exposed to a wide range of literature including different genres of books, poems, plays, films, posters, magazines, signs and newspapers. Core texts are carefully chosen from a range of genres to promote an appreciation of our diverse literary heritage and develop our pupils culturally, emotionally, socially and spiritually.
Children of all ages are given the opportunity to listen to and discuss a wide range of literature at a level beyond that at which they may be able to read independently. They read widely across the curriculum, with a specific focus on increasing their understanding and application of a broad vocabulary.
Reading is a complex activity, with many components. Problem-solving skills, developed early on in literacy learning, are used to decode and later deduce things from the books children study. English is essential to every area of the curriculum and forms the heart and core of our learning and teaching.
At Highfield, we follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme approved by the DfE to develop children into fluent and skillful readers. We start teaching phonics in Reception and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression, which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school. We provide additional support for those children who require help with their Phonics and reading, including those who have English as an additional language or who have special needs, by way of interventions from Early Years through to Year 6.
For more information on Phonics click here
We use a combination of approaches to foster a love of literature and develop confidence in reading and comprehension. We hold Guided Reading and Comprehension sessions where pupils are taught to read fluently, to understand both fiction and non-fiction and most importantly, encouraged to read for pleasure.
Independent reading supports pupils to read from a broad range of authors and texts and encourages them to make use of reading journals to record, reflect and evaluate their reading. This includes using the Enfield Reading Road Map resources in KS2 to challenge our more able readers.
Wherever possible, teachers will look to take advantage of opportunities to make cross-curricular links. Children are given opportunities to develop their reading stamina and fluency through constant application in all other areas of the curriculum. Examples of this include our vocabulary rich humanities booklets and using a range of techniques to develop and reinforce new vocabulary.
Reading at Highfield:
Click Here For Reading Progression Map Core Texts
Phonics at Highfield:
Click Here For Phonics Overview (Little Wandle Letters and Sounds)
Useful Links
Click Here For Collins Big Cat reading book band overview
Click Here For Useful Websites
Click Here For How Can I Help My Child With Their Reading at Home
