English
Reading
At Annesley, we believe that the teaching of reading is integral to a child’s understanding and appreciation of the world around them; a platform that allows our children to see beyond what they know, share in cultural experiences and develop the vocabulary they need to effectively express themselves. Our reading curriculum strives to foster a lifelong love of reading. We cultivate the behaviours that they will need to be discerning readers as they read frequently and widely using self-regulation strategies and discuss what they read. This curriculum is delivered through synthetic phonics, a linked approach to shared and guided reading, home reading, reading across the curriculum, regular opportunities for independent reading and hearing quality texts read aloud every day. All of these are essential components as they offer the range of opportunities needed to develop fluent, enthusiastic and critical readers.
It is important that children are motivated to read at home regularly; when their reading opportunities increase, so does their fluency and stamina which in turn increases their enjoyment of reading. Therefore, the link between children’s motivation to read and reading for pleasure is reciprocal. Furthermore, we know that reading pleasure is beneficial not only for not only reading outcomes, but for wider learning enjoyment and mental wellbeing. Thus, we work hard to foster a love of independent reading and build communities of engaged readers. We understand the significance of parents and carers in supporting their children to develop both word reading and comprehension skills so we endeavour to build a home-school partnership which enables parents and carers to have the confidence to support their children with reading at home.
Reading is at the very heart of our curriculum. We are committed to promoting a love for reading.
Reading Progression Map
Reading is the gateway skill to academic success!
As of Summer 22, Annesley School will be launching Rocket Phonics to support the teaching of reading in school. This will begin in Foundation 2 and Year 1 and will be launched in Year 2 and F1 early 2023. Teachers have all been trained to implement this new systematic, synthetic phonics programme (SSP) and will support children using this approach further up school when required. Rocket Phonics is part of Rising Stars, which is the reading Scheme we use throughout school.
Reading Squads have been developed to support our new approach to reading, with an emphasis on “keep up not catch up”. The Reading squads are comprised of 3 additional, trained staff who will work in both Foundation 2 and Year 1 alongside existing staff on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays to offer intense, directed reading support to all groups within each class simultaneously. Phonics will then be led by the teacher in each year group in addition to this reading support.
In the second half of these 3 afternoons, the Reading Squads will support individuals or groups of children chosen by their teachers, who would benefit from extra reading support, that is targeted specifically to match their needs in reading. Class teachers have liaised with the Reading Squad staff members on the needs of the selected children. This additional support is for individuals and groups of children from Foundation to Year 6.
Annesley School sees reading success as vital to later academic success. We endeavour to offer high quality provision that starts early and continues to meet the needs of all children as they travel though school. Rigorous assessment, combined with targeted provision offered in a comprehensive approach, reflects our belief that being able to read and enjoy reading is our greatest gift to the children at this school.
Stacey Melhuish
Reading Lead and Deputy Head
Home Reading at Annesley Primary School!
Regular home readers will be awarded a raffle ticket when reading diaries are checked by teachers. Mrs Melhuish has been very busy buying lots of new, exciting books for the prize draw!
Let's take a look at the winners from last term!
Wow! Look at all those fabulous books ready to be enjoyed by
the winners of last term's raffle! Who will be lucky enough to
win one of these lovely books next term?
Could you be a winner?
Teachers will be looking for regular reads throughout the week, not in one block together, in your reading diary.
What is new for reading?
The children were recently asked how they feel about reading at
Annesley Primary School, as a result of pupil feedback,
the library has been renamed and reopened as Annesley's Reading Shack.
New brightly coloured seating has been installed, this is providing a much larger seating area for children to sit and enjoy the Reading Shack. This reading space is open every morning playtime. It is supervised by adults in school and provides opportunities for supporting reading and for sharing stories with peers, with the adult on standby to help children to select and enjoy suitable books. There is a large, horseshoe shaped table as well, which will be used for group work and individual support e.g. mental health. This doubles up as a calming, colouring area, as requested by the children.
The books have been reorganised. Any old books were cleared out and donated to the Police Convoy. Lots of new books have arrived, with a range of genres, which were requested in the children's feedback.
Class access to the Reading Shack is timetabled, ensuring all children have stories read to them.
Reading Shack Sign Competition!
This is the winning design for our new Reading Shack! Congratulations to Ellie in Year 1. Mrs Roberts, Mrs Wraith and Mr Brown had a tough time choosing the winning design. This will now be made into a permanent sign. Well done to our runners up... Daniel in Year 2 and Amelia in Year 4!
Photo Frame Competition
Here is a selection of photo entries from the photo frame competition for the reading shack! Well done to everyone who sent a photo in, it was very hard to choose the winners! Congratulations to the winners:
Ellie - Y4
Edith - Y4
Izzy - Y2
Cobi - Y4
Finley - Y1
Bree - Y5
Seb - Y3
Supporting Reading in KS1
Supporting reading a picture book
Supporting reading with early phonics
Supporting reading and understanding the text In KS2
7 top tips for supporting reading at home:
Useful Links to support reading
Here are some useful links you can use at home to support your child with their reading: