Our Vision for Reading

At Bathford Church School, our vision of Grow, Care, Serve, Share is at the heart of our reading curriculum.

We want every child to become a confident, fluent reader who enjoys reading for both pleasure and purpose. Through stories, poetry and non-fiction texts, children develop curiosity, imagination, empathy and a lifelong love of reading.

Reading helps children grow academically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. Through carefully chosen, vocabulary-rich texts, children encounter diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas that help them make sense of the world and develop as caring, responsible citizens.

What Do Children Learn?

Children develop the knowledge and skills needed to become fluent and enthusiastic readers.

This includes:

• Phonics and early reading skills
• Word reading and fluency
• Vocabulary development
• Reading comprehension
• Reciprocal reading strategies
• Understanding a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry
• Reading for pleasure

As children move through the school, they build on prior learning and develop increasingly sophisticated reading and comprehension skills.

How Do Children Learn?

Early Reading and Phonics

We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme to teach phonics and early reading. Daily phonics lessons take place in Reception and Key Stage 1, helping children develop secure decoding skills and confidence as readers.

Children who need additional support receive targeted interventions, including Little Wandle keep-up sessions and other evidence-informed programmes to help them make progress.

Reading Across the School

Reading takes place every day through individual reading, guided reading and whole-class reading lessons.

We use reciprocal reading strategies to help children develop their comprehension skills by encouraging them to predict, question, clarify and summarise what they read. This approach supports children to become active and reflective readers.

Children are exposed to a rich range of texts throughout their time at Bathford and are encouraged to discuss books, share recommendations and develop their reading preferences.

Reading for Pleasure

Creating a love of reading is a key priority.

Children enjoy:

• Daily opportunities to read
• Class novels and story time
• Book discussions and recommendations
• Well-stocked classroom reading areas
• Access to a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry
• Reading-related clubs and enrichment opportunities
• Visits from authors and participation in reading events where possible

Working with Families and the Community

We value the important role that families play in supporting reading development and encourage regular reading at home.

Reading is also celebrated across our wider community. Children have opportunities to share books with younger pupils, read with volunteers and take part in community reading initiatives that promote a love of books and storytelling.

What Will Children Take Away?

Through reading, children develop:

• Fluency and confidence as readers
• A love of books and storytelling
• Strong vocabulary and comprehension skills
• Curiosity about the world around them
• Empathy and understanding of others
• The ability to think critically and communicate effectively

We want our children to leave Bathford as confident readers who enjoy reading independently, can discuss what they have read thoughtfully and are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the next stage of their education and beyond.

Reading Curriculum

For further information about phonics, please see our Little Wandle Phonics and Early Reading information.