Reading

Reading Lessons at Woodlands

Favourite Five (KS1 and EYFS)

favourite five overview ks1.pdf

Shared Reading (KS2)

shared reading overview ks2.pdf

Guided Reading and Reading Gems (KS2)

guided reading overview ks2.pdf

Interventions

At Woodlands, we believe in keep up, not catch up! Our interventions are specific, additional activities that focus on the individual needs of our children. 

While children continue to access our phonics scheme, from Reception to Year 6, if they are identified as not making expected progress or are in danger of falling behind, they will be provided with daily, 1:1 tutoring sessions. All of our Read Write Inc. tutors have been trained to provide the very best support to pupils whether they need to learn gaps in sound knowledge, learn to blend, or improve fluency to enable them to read 100+ words per minute.

We offer further, small-group interventions that are based upon the triangulation of assessment outcomes. All have been designed specifically to meet the needs of our children and to follow on from the Read Write Inc. scheme. These are Literacy Pathways, Fresh Start, Speedy Reading and Understanding Reading, 

Accessing these interventions ensures the children receive the high quality, targeted support that they require to decode more quickly, further developing fluency. It also ensures that children are able to explore a text in greater depth and further develop their comprehension skills. All interventions are closely monitored by the Literacy Lead, Early Reading Lead and our SENCO.

‘I like reading! My intervention helps me to read other books. I discover brand new words that I don’t know.’ Hayden, Y3

‘It’s quite fun – you get to read a new book each week. We are timed and get faster each time!’ Alexis, Y3

Reading Buddies

At Woodlands, we have a group of Year 6 children who support our KS1 children with their reading, three times per week. They use Read Write Inc. resources to support children with the sounds that they are struggling to retain.

Reading at Home

It is important that a love of reading is fostered at home as well as at Woodlands. We believe that children should read as part of their every day lives and choose it as something they do for pleasure. 

Every child, from Reception to Year 6, is provided with a school reading diary and a reading book to take home. Their reading book is chosen from a wealth of books available in school, including those in the school library and in classroom reading corners. Books are progressively banded, based upon the challenge posed. Once the children have surpassed the banded system, they are considered to be a ‘free reader’ and have no specific range of books they are to choose from. The book they bring home should be an appropriate challenge for your child, as well as a book they enjoy. 

Children are encouraged to read as often as possible at home. Parents and Carers are encouraged to use the Reading Gems question stems (stuck into the front of the reading diary and attached below) to support reading at home. Class teachers will mode comments in the reading diary too, every time a child has read to them in class during their independent reading slot. For every adult comment/signature they receive in their diary, they earn a dojo point and a raffle ticket to be entered into the half termly draw with one winner per class. The winner of the draw receives a book voucher or book of their choice. 

reading gems questions stems pdf.pdf

Reading Corners and School Library Spaces

At Woodlands, every classroom incorporates an engaging book corner for children to enjoy and interact with, in order to further promote a love of reading. Here, you will find reference to the Reading Gems that support children during Guided Reading Sessions, a visual of the texts that they have read or are currently reading and a range of fiction and non-fiction, age appropriate texts for them to choose from. 

‘I enjoy going in the book corner because there’s lots of books to enjoy. We spot verbs and adjectives!’

‘There are also Atlases in the book corner – I enjoy looking at them with other children.’

‘I found a Star Wars book in the book corner – it’s really good!’

‘It’s comfy and there’s a wide range of books to discover.’

 

Special events throughout the school year…

World Book Day

Every year, ‘World Book Day’ is marked throughout the globe to celebrate books and reading. Created in 1995, UNESCO intended to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them. 

Each year, children are gifted with a £1 book token, which they can use to purchase one of a specific range of purpose-written books or use towards the price of an existing book. To promote and celebrate World Book Day, adults and children will be encouraged to dress up as a character of their choice. This year, Woodlands will celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 4th March, 2027. More information regarding this event will be posted on ClassDojo, closer to the time. 

Scholastic Book Fair

Scholastic believe ‘reading for pleasure is transformative for pupils’ academic success and personal wellbeing’.  Therefore, twice a year, we host a Book Fair that brings the very best of children’s books to Woodlands. Families are invited to browse the book fayre, before and after school for roughly a week, creating a fantastic buzz throughout the school. Every book purchased results in free books and resources for Woodlands, ultimately benefitting all children in our setting.

 

Bedtime Stories

Bedtime Stories is a very popular event at Woodlands, which usually takes place in the winter months, near to Christmas. Children are invited to stay after school, change into their pyjamas and experience a range of winter-themed books. The children also enjoy a tasty cup of hot chocolate whilst they listen so that it really feels like a cosy winter’s evening!

Books with Breakfast

Throughout the year, in each year group, parents and carers are encouraged to join their children in the classrooms, before school starts, to join our Books with Breakfast. Various books will be available to choose from in the class for you to listen to your child read and enjoy a book together, alongside a hot or cold drink and a pastry!

Author Visits

At Woodlands, we are very lucky that we have frequent visits from successful children's authors at our school. 

Children have the opportunity to chat with the authors, ask questions and sometimes we get some new stories in our library for children to enjoy!

Supporting Excellence in English

We are proud to be an English Hub school. English Hub schools take a leading role in supporting primary schools across the country to improve the teaching of early language, love of reading and phonics. As Specialist Leaders of Literacy, Mrs Duncombe and Miss Smallwood have supported a wide range of schools, ensuring high quality, consistent teaching of phonics. 

Throughout the year, Mrs Duncombe and Miss Smallwood and Mrs Zaki  work as SLEs with school leaders and staff, in primary schools across the county, to offer advice and guidance in order to improve reading and writing outcomes for their pupils.