Reading

At St Finbar’s Catholic Primary School, we aim to ensure that all children are given access to a rich and varied curriculum which encourages them to read an extensive variety of books and other forms of texts.

We actively encourage reading for pleasure. We want children to enjoy reading. There are comfy areas around the school so pupils can read quietly. Children are encouraged to read for pleasure whenever they have time, but it is also on the timetable. Staff are role models: they share their favourite books; they discuss their opinions of books and they exchange recommendations.

We have lots of events and activities to engage the support of parents and families, and the wider community, in helping to promote the enjoyment of reading. For example, we celebrated World Book Day – as we do every year. All children across the school were involved. Everyone was invited to dress as their favourite story character on World Book day.

The school has committed to a book-based approach to English and cross curricular planning in which a particular quality text is used as the basis for a whole half term’s work. Every class chooses a child to be reader of the week, to be awarded a certificate in assembly. We have reading ambassadors in every class. Ambassadors meet regularly to express their class’ views on reading and to discuss ways we could celebrate reading as a school.

In KS1, phonics workshops were held to help parents understand how they can help their children to read. Throughout the year, parents are invited into school to enable more children to share reading with an adult and to be positive role models.

Reading Schemes

Oxford Reading Tree

Tree Tops

Reading 360

Lighthouse Guided Reading