Our Intent

At Ordsall Primary School, we believe that reading opens the door to learning and success across the curriculum. Through our vision, “Play, Learn and Grow Together”, we aim to help every child become a confident reader and develop a lasting love of books.

We want every pupil to:

• Develop the phonic knowledge and decoding skills needed to read accurately and fluently;

• Build a rich vocabulary and understand what they read;

• Explore, discuss and enjoy a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry;

• Develop curiosity, empathy and imagination through reading; and

• Grow in confidence and independence, choosing books that reflect and broaden their interests.

Reading sits at the heart of our curriculum and supports our mission to “be the best that we can be.”

Our Implementation

Early Reading and Phonics

We teach early reading through the Read Write Inc. (RWI) systematic synthetic phonics programme. In Nursery, stories, rhymes, songs and games develop children’s listening, language and early awareness of sounds. As children progress, structured phonics teaching helps them learn sounds, blend words and develop accurate, increasingly fluent reading.

Children read decodable books closely matched to their taught phonics knowledge, giving them opportunities to practise successfully and build confidence. Regular assessments inform teaching groups and identify children who need additional support.

Children who are not on track receive daily targeted support. Pupils who still need phonics teaching continue to receive it in Key Stage 2. Staff training, coaching and monitoring support consistency in delivery.

Reading Beyond Phonics

As pupils become secure in decoding, they move beyond the phonics programme into whole-class reading lessons. Our approach develops fluency, vocabulary and comprehension through carefully selected, high-quality fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

Teaching includes:

• Fluency: teacher modelling, echo reading and rereading to develop accuracy, appropriate pace and expression.

• Vocabulary: explaining and discussing unfamiliar words and phrases, exploring their meaning in context.

• Comprehension: retrieving information, making inferences, predicting, summarising and explaining ideas using evidence from texts.

• Discussion: sharing interpretations, considering different viewpoints and exploring how authors use language to influence the reader.

Texts introduce children to different cultures, experiences and perspectives, while providing opportunities to revisit and deepen their understanding.

Choosing Books and Reading for Pleasure

While children are learning to decode, their reading books are closely matched to their phonics knowledge. Once they have achieved reading fluency, they become ‘free readers’, choosing books based on their interests. Staff offer guidance and recommendations to help them discover new authors, explore different genres and broaden their reading.

Class stories, welcoming classroom reading areas, access to the school library and regular Read and Relax sessions provide opportunities to enjoy books. Events and activities, including World Book Day and The Masked Reader, help celebrate reading across our school community.

Supporting Every Reader

We use assessment and classroom observation to identify barriers and plan appropriate support. This may include continued phonics teaching, additional reading practice or targeted work on fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Teachers adapt resources and teaching approaches so that pupils with SEND can access reading and participate in lessons. We work with families to encourage regular reading at home and share guidance about how they can support their child.

Our Impact

We evaluate our reading provision through:

• Regular RWI assessments and reviews of teaching groups;

• Checks on reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension;

• Classroom visits, pupils’ work and discussions with staff;

• Pupil voice about reading confidence, interests and enjoyment;

• Analysis of progress for different groups, including disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND; and

• Outcomes from the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, Year 2 rechecks and KS2 reading assessments.

We use this evidence to refine teaching and support. Our priority is to ensure that stronger early reading foundations lead to sustained progress in fluency and comprehension throughout school.

Our ambition is for every child to leave Ordsall able to read confidently, understand and discuss a range of texts, and enjoy reading as part of everyday life.

The Masked Reader