"Reading is the gateway to learning. Our focus is to ensure every child becomes a fluent, confident and enthusiastic reader through high-quality teaching, effective intervention and a culture that celebrates reading every day."

Reading is at the heart of everything we do.

We believe that reading is the key to unlocking the entire curriculum and is the foundation for lifelong learning. Developing confident, fluent and enthusiastic readers is one of our highest priorities.

We are committed to ensuring that every child becomes a successful reader, regardless of their starting point. Through high-quality teaching, targeted intervention and a strong reading culture, we work to ensure all pupils develop the fluency, comprehension and vocabulary they need to thrive both in school and beyond.

 

Our Vision for Reading

Our aim is for all pupils to:

• read fluently and confidently;
• develop a love of reading and literature;
• access a broad range of high-quality texts;
• build rich vocabulary and language skills;
• use reading as a tool for learning across the curriculum;
• leave Studfall as confident, independent readers who are ready for the next stage of their education.

How We Promote Reading

Reading is prioritised across the school through a combination of:

• weekly dedicated whole-class reading lessons;
• daily opportunities for independent reading;
• regular story and class novel sessions;
• explicit teaching of vocabulary and comprehension skills;
• a carefully selected range of high-quality texts linked to our curriculum;
• reading opportunities across all subjects;
• ongoing assessment to identify pupils who need additional support.

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Supporting Every Reader

We recognise that children arrive at Key Stage 2 with a range of reading experiences and abilities. Early identification and intervention are therefore crucial.

Pupils who require additional support receive targeted intervention to develop reading fluency, phonics knowledge and comprehension skills. Leaders carefully monitor progress to ensure that barriers are identified and addressed quickly, enabling pupils to catch up and keep up.

                             

Developing a Love of Reading

We want our pupils to see reading as both a skill and a source of enjoyment.

Children are encouraged to:

• read widely and often;
• explore different authors, genres and cultures;
• discuss and recommend books to others – we celebrate Book Club weekly in every class;
• participate in reading events and celebrations;
• develop positive reading habits both in school and at home;
• read, compose and perform a range of poetry.

Our classrooms promote reading through attractive book areas, class novels and opportunities for pupils to talk about what they are reading.

Our Library is a vibrant, exciting space to explore new books! We have fiction and non-fiction lending shelves, a poetry section, a curriculum reference section and more...

Reading Across the Federation

As part of our close partnership with Studfall Infant Academy, we are continually strengthening transition arrangements and early reading provision to ensure pupils build secure foundations before joining the junior school. Developing strong reading habits and effective intervention from the earliest stages of education remains a key priority across our federation.

Phonics

We continue to support and develop children who have found phonics difficult previously. To enable the smoothest possible transition to our Junior school, we have recently acquired and trained staff in the phonics programme called "Essential Letters and Sounds". This programme is used in the Infant Academy.

Reading: A Key School Priority

Leaders have identified reading as a central improvement priority. We are continually refining our approach to ensure that all pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils and those requiring additional support, achieve their full potential as readers. Through careful monitoring, targeted support and a relentless focus on reading, we are determined to ensure every child can access the opportunities that strong reading skills provide.