Reading
In Barton Park Primary we love reading and we are dedicated to sharing this love of reading with all our children and families.
Reading is an essential skill and the foundation for all other learning. In our school, reading is regarded as purposeful and enjoyable because we ensure it relates to real life experiences as well as offering opportunities to escape.
Learning to Read
We teach children to read using Read Write Inc, a high quality synthetic phonics programme. Children have a daily phonics session, focusing on teaching specific sounds, ‘red’ words (tricky words that have to be learnt) and opportunities for practising reading and writing skills. Children are taught in small groups by their attainment level in order that they are supported to progress at speed.
Developing a Love of Reading
Every day each class takes part in a whole class reading workshop using a high quality text. Through these workshops key reading skills are discreetly taught, practised and applied.
We promote reading for pleasure by exposing children to a wide range of text types in lessons and through our library. We model reading through a shared class book and through a modelled love of reading. Children visit our library once a week for 30 mins. We ensure that our books reflect our diverse community so children have the opportunity to see themselves in the books they read. We also take our classes to Barton library in the Early Years and ensure each family is supported to get a library card.
Our School Library
Each week, children are provided with three books to take home. One is a Read Write Inc book that they have been practising in school, or uses the sounds they have been practising. They can read this book to their parent/carer without help. The second is a book that is closely matched to their reading level that they should be able to read with some adult help. The final book is chosen by your child for an adult to read with them.
Involving Families
Involving families contributes to success in reading, so we offer opportunities to work alongside parents to encourage skills in and a love of reading. Our reception parents are invited to a phonics workshop on their child’s first day of school. You can see the presentation below. Each World Book Day, we ask our reception parents to recommend a book for our library and display these on our ‘Take A Leaf From Our Book’ Tree.
"Why is reading to my child so important?"
Here’ s how many words a child would have heard by the time they were 5 years old:
Never read to = 4,662 words
Read to 1-2 times a week = 63,570 words
Read to 3-5 times a week = 169,520 words
Read to daily = 296,660
Read 5 books a day = 1,483,300 words
The Barton Park Reading Promise: Let's work together to ensure your child is read 5 books a day.
Websites to support you with your child's reading
Read Write Inc sounds (See also our page on Reading for more phonics support.)
Oxford Owl : E-books (Your child's teacher can give you a log in.)
