At Henry Chadwick, we value reading as a key life skill and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers.
We aim for children to be able to:
- Read easily and fluently with a good understanding
- Communicate their ideas and emotions to others effectively through speaking, reading and writing
- Develop the habit of reading widely and often for both pleasure and information
- Acquire a wide range of vocabulary, grammar and spoken language
- Be able to discuss, elaborate and clearly explain their ideas and understanding
- Appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
Therefore, we implement the following:
In Early Years, children begin to develop their phonics knowledge as they begin their reading journey. We use a synthetic phonics programme called Read, Write Inc where children are introduced to 44 common sounds and how to blend, read and spell them. They are able to access a range of books matched to the phonics sounds that are changed weekly, which they take home to share with parents/carers. Teachers share a variety of books, which expose the children to rich language, themes and develop their knowledge of the world.
In KS1, children will further develop their phonics knowledge through the continuation of the Read, Write Inc programme which will run alongside and complement English lessons.
In KS2, children will have access to a wide range of books in the classroom as well as the school library. They may be challenged to read books recommended by their teacher or peers, offered the opportunity to independently choose a text or children who are not yet ‘free readers’ or are identified as priority readers, will work through our school reading scheme- these are levelled books which are appropriate for their age and ability. All children at Henry Chadwick will take part in English lessons, which are built around rich, high quality texts. Children will be exposed to a range of genres, fiction and non-fiction, modern and traditional literature and a range of authors. Their teacher will read to them daily, sharing books that will introduce the children to varied vocabulary, grammatical features, and building the understanding that reading and writing are intrinsically linked. Children’s understanding of the text, the themes within them and the author’s choices will be discussed and built upon during lessons.
In Early Years, children begin to develop their phonics knowledge as they begin their reading journey. We use a synthetic phonics programme called Read, Write Inc where children are introduced to 44 common sounds and how to blend, read and spell them. They are able to access a range of books matched to the phonics sounds that are changed weekly, which they take home to share with parents/carers.
In KS1, children will further develop their phonics knowledge through the continuation of the Read, Write Inc programme, which will run alongside and complement English lessons.
During the first term in Early Years and Year 1/2 , parents are invited to attend a phonics workshop when the Read Write Inc programme is explained in more detail and will provide the necessary tools to support their child’s learning at home. However, should you have any problems, please ask for an appointment to speak with your child’s class teacher or Mrs Jane.
Year 1 and 2 Phonics Practice
https://youtube.com/shorts/k96sgcM-8pY
https://youtube.com/shorts/dM5R3s_MfuQ
Phonics Scheme
At Henry Chadwick we use the Ruth Miskin Phonics Scheme. For further details:
www.ruthmiskintraining.com/parents
Phonics Workshops
During November 2019 Phonics workshops were held for parents of children in Years 1/2 and Early Years – for those parents who couldn’t attend the PowerPoint used during the workshops can be found below. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to speak with your child’s class teacher.
RF and AW Phonics Parent Meeting Nov 2019
PhonicsPlay
A site packed with interactive games and many teaching ideas and resources to help children to learn to hear phonemes…
www.phonicsplay.co.uk
Each year group is taught a spelling pattern each week, which is then linked to the spellings they bring home to practice. They have a spelling booklet which they work through each term and the spelling sets to be learnt will be indicated by their class teacher.
At the end of each half term, children are assessed on the spelling patterns taught.
In addition, each child has a personal spelling dictionary, to help with any specific spellings they may need to learn and to encourage them to become independent learners.
Throughout their time at Henry Chadwick our pupils share a variety of books, which expose them to rich language, themes and develop their knowledge of the world. Our aim is to instil a love of reading.
We hope, through fostering a love of reading, that we inspire the children and that they leave us having developed a thirst for reading. We hope our children are able to read widely across a variety of genres to develop their knowledge of themselves and the world they live in, and that they can make informed recommendations about books and authors and will have been exposed to high standards of language and literature to stand them in good stead for their future.
Reading in the Classroom
In each classroom, children have access to a comfortable area or class library designated for reading, enjoying and sharing books and developing reading skills. Whether books are chosen independently or recommended by teachers or peers, we hope children have access to a range of exciting, interesting and engaging books that are appropriate for their age and ability.
We teach Reading alongside our Writing, as part of our English lesson, as the two are intrinsically linked. We use rich, high-quality texts covering a range of genres, fiction and non-fiction, modern and traditional literature and a range of authors.
Teachers use Jane Considine’s Reading Rainbow to focus on reading skills throughout their English lessons. Teachers use the lenses to delve in to the books, encourage discussion around the book in Book Talk sessions, and comprehension skills in Demonstration Comprehension and Flying Solo sessions.
Read To Succeed
It is so important that children hear adults reading aloud and so our teachers read aloud daily, sharing books that will introduce the children to varied vocabulary, grammatical features, and building the understanding that reading and writing are intrinsically linked.
As well as using English lessons to develop children’s understanding of the text, each class also has a ‘Class Reader’ which is an opportunity to share in a book just for the pleasure of reading! In Early Years and KS1, there are a number of picture books in our Basket of Brilliant Books which is changed each half term to ensure children are familiar with the stories. In KS2, the books are often novels which are enjoyed over a longer period.
How can you help at home?
Regardless of your child’s age, they are never too old to listen to a good story!
We appreciate that you are busy but you can really make a difference to your child’s progress by doing two simple things:
1. Read a bedtime story to your child (every night).
If your child is in Early Years or KS1 they will bring home a ‘Read with Me’ book. Please don’t ask them to read the story themselves as this is beyond their current reading stage. It is a book they have chosen to bring home and share with you.
If your child is in KS2, they may have an independent reading book but you can still share the reading. Take turns to read a page or have a more challenging book that you read to them so they can just listen and get absorbed in the wonder of the story! (Even in Year 6!)
2. Listen to your child read the storybook we send home.
If your child is in Early Years or KS1 your child will bring home a book they should be able to read and decode relatively easily because they have been taught all the sounds in the book. They should read this book confidently but please do not say “This book is too easy!” Praise your child for how well they read it – celebrate what a great reader they are. Re-reading stories develops their fluency on every reading.
If your child is in KS2, hearing them read aloud or reading it silently with them then asking them three quick questions, is a great way of supporting and encouraging their reading. The acknowledgment that it is a vital skill and that you value their efforts will go a long way!
In EYFS and KS1 parents are asked to make comments in their reading record and in KS2 children are encouraged to be independently logging and reflecting on their reading, being signed by an adult.
Celebrating Reading
Reading is promoted throughout the school as an enjoyable and enriching experience to both children and their families. We invite parents in for reading breakfasts, reading mornings and workshops.
Children are awarded reading raffle tickets for every five reads, to ensure the profile of reading is constantly in the forefront and children are encouraged and rewarded for reading.
Reading information for parents Y1
Reading information for parents Y2
Reading information for parents Y3
Reading information for parents Y4
Reading information for parents Y5
Reading information for parents Y6
Did you know that if you turn the subtitles on Children’s TV that it can double the chances of them leaving school as a proficient reader?
Please see the link below for information and evidence. turnonthesubtitles.org
Parent Letter For Oxford Owl Reading Scheme April 2021
Read To Succeed Newsletters
Our Writing and Grammar lessons are linked to an English Text, which is chosen for its engaging, high quality and rich content. Our writing is influenced by the text and the genres each Year group needs to become familiar with. Grammatical skills are taught with purpose, to then be used in writing a particular text type, which has been inspired by the text. Throughout a half term, each class will write at least one fiction, one non-fiction and one poetry piece.
Our classrooms are a working environment where children can access shared learning, modelled writing and prompts to help scaffold their learning. Where possible, we encourage the use of skills such as story maps and boxing up to develop their independent writing. As your child progresses through the school, we hope to develop their creative, writer voice and stamina for writing extended pieces of writing.
Free Writes
In addition to our structured writing lessons, we think it is important to offer children the opportunity to be creative and inventive so we offer Free Writing sessions each half term. Teachers may use events, stimulus (objects, pictures, videos) or children’s interests and allow the children free writing time to write for pleasure and fun!
Examples of the high-quality texts, used in EYFS, KS1 and KS2 at Henry Chadwick.
If you have any questions in regards to our English teaching and learning, please arrange to speak to Mrs Jane who is happy to answer any questions you may have.
If you would like to offer your time to support with reading, please contact the school office.