Reading

“Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible”
— Barack Obama

Our aim is to provide a rich and appropriate range of reading opportunities and experiences for all students so they can achieve their full potential according to their individual abilities. We provide a rich reading environment for students to become immersed in which include print, symbols and photographs.

The teaching of phonics at Priory includes the use of auditory, visual and kinesthetic activities. This encourages students to activate as many senses as possible and make learning fun. Phonics is taught using the Twinkl framework, which is a systematic phonics program, approved by the DFE. This aims to build upon students speaking and listening skills as well as introducing and developing their phonic knowledge to support their reading. Students are taught high frequency words, tricky words and words for adult life in written and symbol form. This teaching is practical and linked to adult life and the real world.

How does reading look across our different pathways?

Pre readers

  • Tracking moving objects sounds and lights

  • Responding to and using objects of reference

  • Repeating/ imitating sounds

  • Explore/interest in words/symbols/pictures/objects of reference and their meaning

  • Vocalising in response to attention, a picture/symbol/word

  • Massage stories

  • Experiencing/exploring sensory stories to encourage anticipating events, imitating actions and making choices

  • Recognising a small repertoire of individual symbols (e.g. drink, toilet)

  • Handling/exploring books made from different materials

  • Associating symbols/pictures to objects

  • Representation of real life - concrete objects/objects of reference

  • Participating in call and response sessions

  • Engaging in intensive interaction

  • Listening to stories

  • Developing reading behaviour such as turning pages

  • Using choosing boards

  • Engaging in role play/stories with props

Emerging readers

  • Recognising familiar photographs, symbols and words

  • Matching pictures, objects or words

  • Following sequences/instructions in words/symbols e.g. Sequence strip for personal care, making a snack, following a set of directions, using a shopping list in community, following a recipe

  • Individual/group stories - Sensory stories, drama, role play

  • Developing reading behaviour e.g. Turning pages, pointing to text, joining in with familiar and repetitive phrases and commenting on illustrations

  • Using magnetic letters for reading and spelling

  • Word banks of high frequency and familiar words concerning their everyday lives

  • A reading book at their own level, changed weekly

  • Reading written/symbol words and sentences

  • Responding to questions and discussions following stories to develop comprehension

  • Engaging and responding to a text

  • Recognising social sight vocabulary; reading signs, notices, instructions

  • An engaging book above their reading level that they can enjoy having read to them

  • Respecting/caring for books through the use of school and class librarians

  • Regularly being read to by an adult.

  • Discussing what has been read and asking questions about the text encouraging to identify likes, dislikes, make predictions, cross-check

  • Accessing books to research topics e.g. history, science

  • Learning whole words/symbols by sound/sight

  • Anticipating what might happen next in a story/book

  • Joining in with familiar poems and songs

Readers

  • Regular opportunities to read throughout the day

  • Learning whole words by sight or using their phonics knowledge to decode words

  • Reading word/symbol, sentences, paragraphs and longer pieces of text

  • Reading for pleasure

  • Reading a range of text types and genres e.g. Chapter books, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, audio books, graphic novels, newspapers and comics

  • Reading for research or to obtain information

  • Reading worksheets/PowerPoints (words/symbols)

  • Annotating pieces of work

  • Proof reading their work for spelling, punctuation and grammar

  • Following instructions presented in words

For those pupils who are reading more formally, we use a range of reading schemes, which include Oxford Reading Tree, Project X, Phonic Books (including Moon Dog, Talisman, Magic Belt, and That Dog!), National Geographical Kids and World of Readers.

The reading schemes we use encompass a range of strategies, which include blending, segmenting and sight vocabulary as we recognise that students have different learning styles.

Developing strong links between home and school reading is important in supporting students to become lifelong readers. Where appropriate, students can take home a ‘free choice’ book from their class book corner alongside their reading scheme book. Students are supported in changing their reading books regularly. Comments from parents/ carers are acknowledged and are used to inform next steps.

What types of reading opportunities are created throughout the curriculum?

Reading is embedded within all the pathway curriculums to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn to read at a level appropriate for them. We understand reading (including pre reading) is central to our ability to understand, interpret and communicate with one another. For many of our students, reading will look different. Students throughout the school are at different stages of reading and so may use strategies from any pathway that match their stage of progression. Below presents some examples of how reading may look across the different Pathways.

  • Individual reading — 1:1 reading with an adult in school

  • Group/independent reading across the curriculum

  • Home reading

  • Library visits

  • Story telling

  • Print/reading the community

  • Print/reading during work experience

  • Reading for pleasure at home and at school

  • Listening to CD stories, podcasts

  • Bucket time

  • Story sacks, bag boxes

  • Tacpac

  • Immersive stories

  • Massage stories

Useful links to support reading

  • Active Learn — Our online learning environment with lots of fun books for children to read and share.

  • BBC nursery songs — A collection of nursery songs from the Early Learning series Listen and Play and Playtime, both of which are currently available on the BBC iPlayer and as podcasts.

  • Book Trust — Suggested books for children, advice on how to read with your child, book lists, fun games, competitions to win free books, children’s book club, etc.

  • Love Reading — Expert recommendations and opening extracts of books.

  • Oxford Owl — Phonics advice and access to free ebooks. Free to register.

  • Pearson — Publisher’s website designed to give parents help and advice for reading with children.

  • Phonics — A useful website featuring free resources for KS1 with the option of subscribing.

Others — Mainly American, so be aware of different spellings and pronunciation.

  • Starfall — Some free content on here for beginning readers.

  • Storyline Online — Features accomplished actors reading some of their favourite children’s books. Each story comes with a free activity guide and can be viewed on YouTube or SchoolTube.

  • Storynory — Features a collection of original, fairytale, and classic children’s audio stories.