Reading

Subject Lead = Mrs Holmes

Reading rationale

At Saint Augustine’s Primary School, our reading philosophy centres on instilling a lifelong love of reading in every child. We believe that reading is not only a key to academic success but also a source of joy, imagination, and exploration. Through the CLPE-power of reading Enflish scheme, children are exposed to high-quality books during English lessons, carefully selected to inspire a deep appreciation for stories and literature. This is further enriched by our reading spine, which ensures that students encounter a diverse range of authors, genres, and themes, cultivating the habit of reading for pleasure.

Poetry plays a significant role in our curriculum, with children engaging in poetry units, participating in poetry slams, and experiencing our poetry spine that exposes them to various forms of poetic expression.

In KS1, students learn to read through daily phonics lessons and decodable Rhino Readers books that align with the sounds they are learning, providing a solid foundation. As they progress, they transition to Accelerated Reader, a program that encourages comprehension and reading fluency through level-appropriate books and quizzes.

We are committed to ensuring that all students, including those with SEND, receive the support they need to thrive as readers. Our tailored interventions and differentiated instruction strategies help meet individual learning needs, ensuring that every child can engage with texts at their own level and feel challenged appropriately.

Children benefit from multiple reading opportunities, such as guided reading, dedicated reading slots, and cross-curricular reading. They visit the library biweekly, choosing books to share with their families, fostering a love for reading at home. Events like World Book Day immerse students in the joy of books, while various activities throughout the year provide further chances to celebrate and enjoy reading together.

Furthermore, we measure the impact of our reading initiatives through ongoing assessment and feedback, which informs our teaching practices and helps us continuously improve our approach. By equipping our educators with professional development opportunities, we ensure that they are well-prepared to support and inspire all learners in their reading journeys.

At Saint Augustine’s, we are dedicated to ensuring every child leaves with a passion for reading that lasts a lifetime, becoming confident, independent thinkers equipped to tackle future challenges.

Extra Support

Home Reading Program and Accelerated Reader
In KS2, our home reading program is supported by the Accelerated Reader program. Students select books within their reading range, read at home, and complete quizzes on the books to assess comprehension and reinforce reading skills. This program helps students progress at an individualised pace and promotes reading engagement and accountability.

Precision Teaching for Frequent Readers
Children who fall behind in reading receive additional support through precision teaching and frequent reading. This targeted approach allows teachers and TAs to focus on specific gaps, such as high-frequency words (HFWs) or phonics sounds, providing the exact practice a child needs to catch up quickly.

Frequency of Adult Reading Support
Children in KS2 are heard reading by an adult on a two-week cycle to ensure they receive ongoing feedback, support, and encouragement. For children needing more support, particularly those identified as frequent readers, additional reading sessions provide the practice needed to strengthen their reading skills.

Reading Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent of Reading at Saint Augustine's Primary School

At Saint Augustine's Primary School, we are dedicated to cultivating a vibrant reading culture that extends beyond academic achievement, embracing the joy and exploration that literature offers. We believe that instilling a love for reading is crucial for personal development, creativity, and critical thinking. Our approach encompasses a range of activities and strategies designed to engage students, deepen their understanding, and inspire a lifelong passion for reading.

Central to our reading programme is the reading spine, a carefully curated collection of high-quality texts that children will encounter in their year groups, either during English lessons or at Storytime. These texts are selected to provide exposure to diverse genres and authors, helping to reinforce key themes across the curriculum. In Key Stage 2, dedicated time is allocated for recreational reading, allowing pupils to engage with their chosen books purely for enjoyment, which encourages exploration and broadens literary horizons. Bi-weekly library visits foster a reading community at home, enabling students to borrow books to share with their families.

In both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, we prioritise shared reading sessions, with each child participating in one focused session per week. Using the VIPERS framework (Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval, and Summary), pupils develop comprehension skills and critical thinking, fostering a deeper understanding of texts. Shared reading provides opportunities for discussion, drama, and book talk, in line with the CLPE Power of Reading principles, supporting pupils to internalise language, explore structure, and express ideas confidently.

We emphasise poetry through our poetry spine, where pupils learn six selected poems throughout the year, enriching vocabulary and appreciation for the beauty of language. Storytime occurs at least three times a week, enabling teachers to model expressive reading, which supports comprehension and an awareness of rhythm, intonation, and narrative style.

At Saint Augustine's, we aim to create a community of enthusiastic readers who excel academically and value the transformative power of literature. Our intent is to nurture confident, capable, and passionate readers who will carry their love of reading with them throughout their lives, with particular attention to supporting SEND and disadvantaged learners.

Implementation Statement for Reading at Saint Augustine's Primary School

To realise our vision for reading, we implement a structured programme designed to engage all learners and promote literacy development. The Accelerated Reader programme motivates pupils to read widely and independently, enabling them to select books at an appropriate level and complete quizzes to assess comprehension. Consistent use across year groups ensures all students benefit, and regular assessments track progress and encourage achievement of reading goals.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, we use decodable texts such as Rhino Readers, aligned with systematic phonics instruction, to develop fluency and confidence. Shared reading lessons, supported by the Comprehension Plus framework, expose pupils to a variety of genres, enhancing comprehension and critical thinking. Discussion, drama, and book talk around these texts provide opportunities for children to explore vocabulary, sentence structure, and narrative techniques, reflecting CLPE Power of Reading methodology.

To reinforce a love of reading, we provide dedicated reading-for-pleasure sessions where pupils choose books of interest. Regular library visits enrich reading experiences and encourage engagement with literature at home.

We provide additional support through targeted interventions, volunteer reading sessions, and reading buddies, creating collaborative opportunities for reading. We aim to host poetry visits and author events to inspire pupils and strengthen real-world connections with literature.

Professional development ensures staff are confident in using inclusive teaching strategies that support SEND learners while challenging high-ability readers. We also plan to introduce reading competitions and increase opportunities for shared reading experiences across the school.

Reading Impact at Saint Augustine’s

Our reading curriculum at Saint Augustine’s aims to develop confident, fluent readers with a genuine love for literature. Across Key Stages 1 and 2, our structured approach supports reading proficiency and ensures all pupils can achieve their potential.

In Key Stage 1, the Twinkl Phonics programme lays a strong foundation for early reading through systematic instruction. Children practise at home using Rhino Readers, enabling parental involvement. As pupils progress into Year 2, they transition to Accelerated Reader to consolidate comprehension and monitor their independent reading journey.

In Key Stage 2, Accelerated Reader continues alongside weekly shared reading sessions, maintaining a focus on fluency, comprehension, and critical engagement with a wide range of texts. All pupils benefit from reading-for-pleasure sessions and consistent access to a rich reading spine, ensuring exposure to high-quality literature.

Reading outcomes at Saint Augustine's demonstrate sustained improvement and above-average performance in key areas. Continued focus on differentiated teaching, parental engagement, and support for high achievers will be essential to enhance expected standards and GDS performance, particularly in KS1 and among vulnerable learners.

We are confident that our structured, literary-based reading programme, centred on CLPE Power of Reading, will empower pupils, foster a lifelong love of reading and equipping them with the skills necessary for future success.

English Policy

Reading Spine