At Moorlands Primary reading is at the heart of our curriculum. It is our intention that every child will be a reader. From the start of their journey with us children are supported to develop a love of reading. They are exposed to high quality texts and through a consistent approach to the teaching of phonics, they are provided with the skills they need to decode confidently.
Laying the foundations for reading
To teach reading, we follow Floppy's Phonics, which is a rigorous, systematic and synthetic phonics and writing programme.
Synthetic phonics has been proven to be the most effective approach to developing early reading proficiency and at Moorlands Primary we believe this is the best way to introduce children to the joy of reading.
Throughout school we strive to encourage a rounded approach to reading where phonics skills are applied to increase fluency and improve comprehension.
As a school we follow the Oxford Reading Tree, within this books are banded to match the progression of the children.
Within Key Stage One these books are fully decodable fiction and non-fiction texts which are matched to the children’s phonics level.
As the children progress to Key Stage Two the banded books allow children to develop their love of reading, fluency and comprehension skills by a range of text type and genre.
Activities and support for Parents and Carers
Parents are partners in their child’s educational journey and are invited to Phonics workshops. These sessions are used to support parents in gaining knowledge and understanding of how phonics is taught so that they have the skills to support phonics and early reading and writing at home.
We have a weekly Reading Cafe in Bookingham Palace every Wednesday morning (with exceptions noted on our weekly newsletter), where you and your child are invited for a breakfast snack and time to read a book together before school. The Cafe opens at 8.30am.
Support for reading
Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home.
- There are two types of reading book that your child may bring home:• A reading banded book. This will be at the correct reading level for your child. To develop fluency, this book needs to be read numerous times.
- A sharing book. This will be a book your child has selected themselves/ shows interest in they may not be able to read this on their own. This book is for you both to read and enjoy together.
Reading Banded Book
This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.
Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.
Sharing books with your child
In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together.
Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book.
The main thing is that you have fun!"