Reading Intent 

 

At Halsford Park Primary School, our Reading curriculum focusses on word reading and comprehension whilst nurturing the development of the whole child through carefully sequenced learning that builds both the knowledge and skills needed to become fluent, confident and enthusiastic readers.

Rooted in the aims of the National Curriculum, we enable pupils to read accurately and fluently, develop a secure understanding of increasingly challenging texts, and cultivate a life-long love of reading through exposure to high-quality, diverse literature.

Our ultimate goal is for every learner to grow into a successful, confident individual who soars to success and makes a positive contribution to our school community and wider society.

Guided by our Core Values of Responsibility, Respect, Courage and Compassion, we provide an inclusive Reading curriculum in which every child feels represented, supported and valued.

Through carefully planned learning sequences, rich discussion and purposeful opportunities to analyse, infer, evaluate and explain, pupils develop resilience, curiosity and critical thinking. Reading broadens horizons, deepens understanding across the curriculum and equips children with the language, knowledge and empathy needed to engage thoughtfully with the world, both now and in the future.

 

 

Early Reading and Phonics Intent

Guided by our Core Values of Responsibility, Respect, Courage and Compassion, we foster an inclusive reading culture where every child feels represented, supported and equally valued. We are committed to ensuring that all children, regardless of their starting point, receive high-quality, systematic phonics teaching alongside rich language and reading experiences that enable them to achieve their full potential.

Through our Read Write Inc. Phonics programme, children develop a secure understanding of the alphabetic code, learning the 44 speech sounds and over 150 graphemes in a carefully sequenced progression. They are taught to decode accurately, read with increasing fluency and develop a deep understanding of what they read. Closely matched, engaging texts enable children to apply their phonics knowledge successfully, building confidence and fostering a love of reading from the earliest stages.

Our teaching explicitly develops the three key elements of reading. Children learn to read with accuracy by recognising new sounds, revisiting previously taught sounds, decoding unfamiliar words and developing vocabulary. They build fluency through repeated reading, enabling them to read with speed, expression and confidence. Alongside this, they develop comprehension by predicting, discussing, questioning and reflecting on texts, building background knowledge and using rich talk to deepen their understanding.

We strive to provide an irresistible reading curriculum that inspires curiosity, imagination and a lifelong love of books. Through carefully planned learning sequences, engaging stories, purposeful discussion and regular opportunities to read both at school and at home, we develop resilient, independent readers who are equipped with the knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm to access the wider curriculum, question and explore the world around them, and continue their reading journey beyond Halsford Park Primary School.

 

Halsford Park Primary School: Our Approach to Phonics with Read Write Inc.

At Halsford Park Primary School, we are committed to ensuring every child becomes a confident and fluent reader. We achieve this through the Read Write Inc. (RWI) Phonics programme, the UK’s leading synthetic phonics approach developed by Ruth Miskin and published by Oxford University Press.

What is Read Write Inc.?

RWI Phonics is a comprehensive programme designed to teach children from Reception to Year 4 (and older pupils with SEND) the essential skills of reading, spelling, and writing. It incorporates:

• Daily phonics lessons tailored to every child's needs
• Over 300 decodable storybooks via Oxford Owl
• Spelling and writing activities that develop confidence
• Rigorous assessment and tracking to ensure progress

How Does RWI Benefit Our Pupils?

Using RWI Phonics, we will help all children:

• Reach or exceed the expected standard in the national phonics screening check
• Develop reading fluency and comprehension skills
• Spell accurately and write creatively with confidence
• Build cooperative behaviour and articulate ideas clearly

What Makes Our Phonics Teaching Effective?

At Halsford Park, we follow RWI’s steps for success to deliver rigorous and high-quality teaching. We ensure:

• High quality training for staff
• Grouping children effectively to maximize learning during daily phonics sessions
• Partner-based interactive strategies to enhance spoken language and comprehension
• Ongoing support for parents and carers with resources and virtual lessons to reinforce learning at home

With RWI, our pupils develop a lifelong love for reading.  This proven approach ensures that every child at Halsford Park has the best possible foundation for academic success.

Information for Parents

How to say the sounds: 

http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/dN1Et5zJ/P05E4tc9 

Understanding Phonics: 

http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/jWIOJMWC/ZiCk9pFU

Listening to your child read:

http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/jWIOJMWC/ZiCk9pFU

Sound Blending: 

http://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/WaRYgHLS/CNomwiRf

From The National Curriculum in England – framework document – Reading

The programmes of study for reading at key stages 1 and 2 consist of two dimensions:

• word reading
• comprehension (both listening and reading).

It is essential that teaching focuses on developing pupils’ competence in both dimensions; different kinds of teaching are needed for each. Skilled word reading involves both the speedy working out of the pronunciation of unfamiliar printed words (decoding) and the speedy recognition of familiar printed words. Underpinning both is the understanding that the letters on the page represent the sounds in spoken words. This is why phonics should be emphasised in the early teaching of reading to beginners (i.e. unskilled readers) when they start school.

Good comprehension draws from linguistic knowledge (in particular of vocabulary and grammar) and on knowledge of the world. Comprehension skills develop through pupils’ experience of high-quality discussion with the teacher, as well as from reading and discussing a range of stories, poems and non-fiction. All pupils must be encouraged to read widely across both fiction and non-fiction to develop their knowledge of themselves and the world in which they live, to establish an appreciation and love of reading, and to gain knowledge across the curriculum.

Reading widely and often increases pupils’ vocabulary because they encounter words they would rarely hear or use in everyday speech. Reading also feeds pupils’ imagination and opens up a treasure-house of wonder and joy for curious young minds.

It is essential that, by the end of their primary education, all pupils are able to read fluently, and with confidence, in any subject in their forthcoming secondary education.’

How we show the Core Values in Phonics

Reading Achievement Statements

• Links that can be made to the EYFS Early Learning Goals
• Reading Achievement Statements Yr 1-6

Reading Progression across the School

• Reading-progression-EY - Key Stage 1
• Reading-Progression-Key stage 2
• Whole School Key Texts Overview - Halsford Park.docx

Key Reading Expectations Year 1-6

• Key Reading Expectations Year 1
• Key Reading Expectations Year 2
• Key Reading Expectations Year 3 Reading
• Key Reading Expectations Year 4
• Key Reading Expectations Year 5
• Key Reading Expectations Year 6

 

• Reading list - EY - Yr6

KS1 & KS2 Vipers Reading Bookmarks

• VIPERS Bookmark Parents KS1
• VIPERS Bookmark Parents KS2