We invite you to get stuck into our summer sizzler reading challenge. As a community of readers we want to show that we all love reading, so as the children embark on the challenge to read 6 books with the library as part of the Ready, Steady, go! challenge, we also ask you to pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read and get yourself reading. We want to read 1,000 books by the end of the summer as part of our community challenge. Whether it’s a thriller, romance, cookery book or worthy classic it doesn’t matter, simply read it an log it using the button provided. So, what are you waiting for? Get reading!
Reading at Christ Church
How reading links to our school vision.
“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”
Together, we aim to provide the valuable and life- affirming gift of reading to every child. We feel that all children deserve the right to be fluent readers and are given the platform, in a supportive and enriching environment, to explore and appreciate the world of books.
Learn
We realise that children will have better opportunities in life, and have a greater wealth of experience if they are taught to read fluently, with clarity and confidence, as early as possible.
Through a structured approach to the teaching of phonics in order to decode, children will quickly adopt strategies to increase their speed and accuracy and build a solid linguistic knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.
We recognise the importance of parents and carers in supporting their children on this vital journey as we seek to work in partnership, empowering all parties to understand and enhance the skills being taught in school. This is achieved through the reading and sharing of high quality texts, chosen by teachers who are motivated and inspired by the power of the written word.
Grow
During their time at Christ Church school our children develop a love of reading through access to a wide, rich and varied canon of texts which represent the diversity and difference of our world. Our passion for the magic that stories can bring will open up a treasure house of wonder and joy, a treasure house into which no child should be denied access.
Through exciting and memorable experiences we give the children the chance to flourish.
Reading is a lifelong journey that Christ Church wholly embraces. We recognise the fact that reading is something to celebrate. So, through things like author visits, regular trips to the library, year group reading mix ups, whole-school- reading challenges and fund raising projects, we instil the notion that reading is an active and collaborative past-time that is shared and enjoyed with others.
Through reading, children will learn how to empathise with others as they inhabit, through imaginative thought and creative thinking, the manifold worlds that can be entered and explored through the simple and powerful act of turning the pages of a book.
Intent (Learn).
At Christ Church we believe that reading is the best gift that you could give your child and we recognise that reading is an essential part of all areas of learning. Pupils read in daily guided reading session and when possible individually to teachers, TA’s and volunteers. Reading lies at the heart of the curriculum at Christ Church. We are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers and we believe reading is the key to academic success.
The study of literacy develops pupils’ abilities to listen, speak, read and write for a wide range of purposes. Pupils learn to use language to communicate their ideas, views and feelings. It enables pupils to express themselves creatively and imaginatively, as they become enthusiastic and critical readers of stories, poetry and drama, as well as non-fiction and media texts. Pupils gain an understanding of how language works by looking at its patterns, structures and origins. Pupils use their knowledge, skills and understanding in speaking and writing across a range of different situations.
At Christ Church we passionately believe that all pupils possess the potential to become readers and writers. It is up to us as practitioners to nurture and unlock that potential.
Implementation (Grow).
As a school we:
• Adopt a whole-school approach to the teaching and learning of reading
• Ensure that enabling pupils to master the ‘basic skills’ in reading is the absolute priority of all staff.
• Teach all pupils to read at or above age-appropriate standards.
• Rigorously track pupil progress in reading through a variety of formative and summative assessment methods to ensure all
pupils make accelerated progress in literacy. ‘ We use Insight Tracking to store tracking data. We use NFER reading tests periodically to track progress.
• Ensure that pupils have access to the quality-first teaching of phonics and reading.
• Ensure that all pupils can see a purpose in reading and are inspired to continue to learn beyond the school setting and throughout life.
• Ensure that pupils have sound phonic knowledge to enable reading and writing.
• Pupils have daily guided reading lessons where they are exposed to a range of different texts and can demonstrate and understanding of these.
• All pupils chose a reading book to take home and this is changed frequently.
• Children are read to each day by the class teacher.
• Acknowledge parents and carers role as the primary educators of their pupils by involving them in every stage of their child’s learning in literacy.
• Intervene immediately if a child is identified as failing to make expected progress in literacy.
• Provide inspiring environments of the highest quality, which promote creativity, independent learning and fire the imagination.
Reading skills are considered a priority, thus enabling pupils to read fluently and with understanding, to read for information and to use with confidence a wide range of printed material. We have a range of attractive books and a variety of reading scheme books, which we add to and update regularly. Pupils are encouraged to believe in themselves as ‘readers’ and to enjoy all books; by reading and being read to at home and in school. We want children to have a love of reading for pleasure as well as being able to read for information. Good reading skills empower the learner and are essential for accessing all other curriculum areas.
At Christ Church all teachers read aloud to their class on a daily basis and regularly discuss theirs and the children’s responses to their reading. We actively encourage the children to read for pleasure through;
· picture books sharing at Reception
· author and storyteller visits;
· author studies as part of the English curriculum;
· the promotion of the summer library reading challenge.
Impact (Flourish).
By the time pupils leave Christ Church, they are competent readers who can recommend books to their peers, have a thirst for reading a range of genres and be able to participate in discussions about books, including evaluating an author’s use of language and the impact this can have on the reader. They can also read books to enhance their knowledge and understanding of all subjects on the curriculum, and communicate their research to a wider audience.
“I like ‘Kay’s Marvellous Medicine by Adam Kay because it’s very funny and informative, and he has a really casual, informal, random style.” (year 4)
“I am a massive fan of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, because it transports me into a whole new world.” (year5)
“I loved Toto The Ninja Cat And The great Snake Escape by Dermot O’Leary because the cat is hilarious and there is so much action. It’s amazing!” (year 3).
