Reading and Phonics

At our school, we want every young person to become a confident and capable reader, no matter their starting point. Reading brings many benefits, including better concentration, wider knowledge, stronger vocabulary, imagination and empathy. It is also closely linked with future success in school and life. Because of this, every pupil is given the chance to read and the support they need to make progress.

We help pupils develop a love of reading by giving them access to high-quality books, and a variety of ways to access reading, for example, Listening Books, manga-style stories, easy-readers, sensory stories. We encourage them to enjoy stories, poetry, non-fiction and reading for both pleasure and learning. Our classroom and bed-side lessons are rich in language, with inviting book spaces and daily opportunities for pupils to engage with reading.

Reading is taught every day through activities such as phonics lessons, guided reading, reading aloud and book discussions using Blanks levels of questioning. Staff receive regular training so they can teach reading effectively, understand pupils’ needs and share their enthusiasm for books.

Across the school, reading areas are well stocked, regularly refreshed and include a range of newspapers, magazines and listening books to support different learners. We choose books that reflect pupils’ diverse backgrounds and offer formats that are accessible to all, including simplified texts, different font styles and graphic formats.

We celebrate reading throughout the year with events like World Book Day, author visits and storytelling activities. Reading is also promoted in all subjects, helping pupils see its importance across their learning.

All pupils are assessed when they join the school so we can understand their reading level and plan the right support. We use a range of tools, including phonics programmes for younger pupils (Early Letters and Sounds) and older learners who need extra help. Older pupils who require additional support may follow tailored programmes such as That Reading Thing, multisensory approaches or visual tools, along with access to high‑interest, age‑appropriate books.

Finally, we continually review how well reading is being supported across the school. We do this through surveys, observations, book monitoring and sharing our progress with governors. Our aim is to make sure every young person has the opportunity to grow as a reader during their time with us.