At Broadlands, we value reading as a key life skill and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers. We believe reading is key for academic success so to ensure we have a rounded approach to the teaching of reading, we implement the following:

• Children in KS2 take part in English reading sessions  four times week completing a carousel of teacher led, LSSA led or independent activities. 
• Weekly, each class have a taught comprehension lesson that is domain specific exposing children to a wide range of texts, both fiction and non-fiction and including poetry.
• We are very lucky to have a wide range of reading books in our school. All children from Reception to Year 6 chose a reading book to take home and this is changed regularly.
• Each classroom has a selection of books in their classroom which are directly linked to the class topic. This offers opportunities for the children to apply their reading skills across the curriculum.
• Each classroom has a reading area that is a welcoming and comfortable place for children to enjoy reading.
• Children are read to each day by their class teacher.
• Children in both KS1 and KS2 have the opportunity to take part in “Reading Buddies” where they can mix with children from other year groups to share a story.
• Children who are not yet “free readers”, will work through our school reading scheme – these are levelled books which match the children’s current reading age. We expect family at home to read these books with their child daily and make comments in their child’s reading record.

By the time the children leave Broadlands, they are competent readers who can recommend books to their peers, have a thirst for reading a range of genres including poetry and participate in discussions about books including evaluating an author’s use of language and the impact this can have on the reader.

Reading is not only celebrated in classrooms at Broadlands, around the school you will find displays which celebrate authors, children’s favourite books and reading reward schemes. In addition, throughout the school year, the importance of reading is enhanced through World Book Day, Roald Dahl Day, Author and Poet visits, parent reading workshops and a range of trips and visits which enrich and complement children’s learning.

• Four times a week, 25 minutes of each class timetable is dedicated to English reading.
• Each week, teachers plan for a comprehension lesson based on a different reading domain.
• Children are tested regularly using the Bug Club reading tests (excluding Year 6 and 2 who use SATS papers).
• Each child is heard read by the class teacher regularly on a rotation basis, as well as other members of staff throughout the week.

Reading books are carefully matched to the children’s current reading age and altered when needed.

Through the teaching of systematic phonics, our aim is for children to become fluent readers by the end of KS1. This way, children can focus on developing their fluency and comprehension as they move through the school. Attainment in reading is measured using the statutory assessments at the ned of Key Stage One and Two. These results are measured against children nationally. Attainment in phonics is measures by the Phonics Screening Test at the end of Year 1. Phonics is tracked termly from Nursery against phased sub-levels.

However, we firmly believe that reading is the key to all learning and so this impact of our reading curriculum goes beyond the results of the statutory assessments. We give all children the opportunity to enter the magical worlds that books open up to them. We promote reading for pleasure as part of our reading curriculum. Children are encouraged to develop their own love of genres and authors and to review their books objectively. This enhances a deep love of literature across a range of genres, cultures and styles.