Reading and Phonics at Hawthorn

 

Reading and Phonics at Hawthorn

Reading plays a vital role in the development and education of your child. At Hawthorn we ensure that pupils have lots of opportunities to read in lots of different contexts and for different reasons. We continually strive to promote a love of reading to ensure that pupils are ready for the next stages in their learning and to make sure that they will learn to love books and words.

We encourage parents to become involved in reading activities with their child. 

Our school library has also recently been completed and we are excited to develop this and add more books to it in the future. The library is open at break-times by Miss Pearson. 

Phonics

In Reception Class and Key Stage One we deliver a consistent approach to phonics. We follow Read, Write Inc (RWI) specially adapted to our school.

Every pupil in Reception Class and Key Stage One works through the programme to help them decode (sound out) words that they read and spell. Children are in ability groups based on the up to date information about how well they are doing. Videos are available to help parents help their child to practise their phonics at home. Reading is linked to understanding what they have read. Links are made between reading, writing and phonics through short writing activities.

Using small group work, on a daily basis, allows staff to pin point any individuals who may need additional support in this area, including RWI Fresh Start intervention for those in KS2, planning intervention activities if needed. Teachers will always keep you informed if your child is having additional support.

 

Reading schemes in  Reception Class and Key Stage One

Children will take home a phonics-linked RWI book to practise the sounds they are learning in school. 

As children progress and become more confident when reading, they are encouraged to choose their own reading book from outside a scheme, although a member of staff will always read with your children to check that it is appropriate for them.  Pupils have opportunity to choose their own book from reading schemes Spotlights, Rigby Star, Oxford Reading tree and Read Write Inc

Opportunities for reading in Reception, KS1 and KS2

Pupils also read regularly in other areas of the curriculum and in other parts of the school day through:

Guided Reading (EYFS and KS1) - Teachers work with small groups of pupils to teach specific and targeted reading skills in a book or text that is sufficiently challenging.

Whole class Reading lessons – children in KS2 take park in whole class reading sessions at least 3 times a week. Children will look at a fiction, non-fiction or poem throughout the course of the week, allowing children to look at a text in more depth to help develop a range of reading skills.

Reading Across the Curriculum - Pupils read a range of books linked to other areas of their learning and their topics. They will often use these texts for research and as a prompt for a writing activity. Sometimes, this reading will also help the work children complete in their English lessons.

Class novels - In all classes, books are read to pupils allowing them to hear good examples of reading aloud and to develop a love for reading books themselves. Class books are shared with pupils, where they read along with the teacher. This gives children the chance to discuss what they are reading with both the class teacher and the other children in their class.

Reading for pleasure – All classes have a reading area for children to choose a reading for pleasure book from, which children should also read at home. Parents' workshops are held regularly to show parents how to read with their child and how to ask challenging questions to check understanding.

Our progress expectations in reading for each year group can be seen below. 
Reading for pleasure recommendations for each year can be seen below.