We love books at Archibald! Developing a love of reading is a key aspiration of ours; we use books to inspire the children in their learning and to provide a hook into topics / themes. Each class has a library for the children to access and we actively encourage our children to spend time reading for pleasure.
READING HELPERS
We are keen to continue to work in collaboration with you as we enter our new school year in September 2025.
We are looking for adults (parents, carers and grandparents) to support reading throughout our school. Any help would be much appreciated - this could be an hour a week or fortnightly, on any day and at any time. There are no criteria, rules or necessary skills required for reading with the children: simply your time to offer additional reading opportunities for our children.
In terms of time, if you could commit to a set time each week this would be great. Once we have your name and information, we will allocate each you a year group to work with. If you are unable to make a session all we ask is that you let the class teacher know either directly or via the office.
New Reading Helper 2025: https://forms.office.com/e/2L8idunvqV
Reading Helper 2025 (previous helpers and current Archibald First School DBS holders): https://forms.office.com/e/ciT0S6GKpg
LITTLE WANDLE
Our early readers in Reception and Year 1 follow the Little Wandle programme for reading and phonics. We have had huge success with the programme over the last couple of years, developing confident readers who we hope will have a lifelong love of reading.
Parents of children in Reception and Year 1 are invited to a Reading and Phonics Meeting on 24th September at 5pm. The letter is on the website under the EYFS and Year 1 letters.
Reception parents are also invited in to see how phonics is taught in school. The letter with a sign up link is on the website under the EYFS letters link
CLASS READING ROUTINES
Each year group will let you know about the routine for receiving and swapping reading books each week.
READING AWARDS
At the end of every half term we host a reading award assembly. Class teachers select two children from their class who have really impressed them with their reading. This could be for many reasons such as
- their level of interest (new or sustained) in reading
- the effort they are putting into their reading
- the progress they have made
- the amount of reading they are undertaking
- for choosing a new /different type of book to explore...
The half termly winners are rewarded with a book from our special book basket.
READING WORMS - KEY STAGE 2
Children in Key Stage 2 (years 3 & 4) are given a 'reading worm' each half term. If they read at least 5 times a week, they can colour in a segment on their worm. Rewards are given once the worm is fully coloured in.
Reading daily, even for 5-10 minutes, is actively encouraged.
ARCHIBALD READING CHALLENGE
The aim is to see how many of these books they can read before the end of July. Grown-ups are asked to record and sign on the sheet provided. Once your child achieves the number of books needed for a Bronze, Silver or Gold certificate, please let the class teacher know. Certificates are given at the end of each term.
LIBRARY TIME
BOOK SWAP READING TROLLEYS
We have book swap reading trolleys for you to access. These are located just by the main entrance to the school office.
- Add a book to a trolley
- Take a book
- Read the book
- Return the book
- Repeat
If you have books in good condition that need a good home, please add them to the trolleys.
LOST BOOKS
Please look after our school books carefully.
Any lost LIttle Wandle Books will be charged for at £5 per book. Families are asked for the £5 or to replace the lost book via Amazon.
If a library book is lost, we ask that you replace this with a book from home that is in good condition or through purchasing a new book for school.