Our approach to Reading

We promote a positive reading culture and encourage a love of books and learning through reading. This is supported by author visits, links with the local library, whole school book events and adults as positive reading role models.

• Attractive and well stocked school library and class book corners/dens – inviting and stocked with age-appropriate texts.
• Daily reading in all classes.
• Reading 1:1 – with teachers/teaching assistants and volunteers
• Whole class reading is taught using the Devon Education Services Re-think Reading Programme. 
• Children who are learning to read fluently bring home a selection of phonetically decodable books linked to our Read Write Inc Phonics program. They may also choose an additional book which a parent can read to them at home.
• Children’s book choices (particularly when they become free readers) are monitored daily through book talk and through reading journals to ensure appropriateness of level/age. Children are explicitly taught what a book may look like if it is age/level appropriate.
• The use of Accelerated Reader (AR) - a reading management and monitoring programme that aims to foster independent reading. The internet-based software assesses reading age, and suggests books that match pupils’ needs and interests. Pupils take computerised quizzes on books and earn AR points as they progress.
• Read Write Inc (RWI) is our chosen phonics program. Phonics is taught daily in EYFS and KS1 until the children have become fluent readers.

Our Approach to Early Reading and Phonics

At Buckfastleigh Primary School, we follow the Read Write Inc phonics programme.

In Foundation Stage, children are introduced to phonemes (sounds) linked to the letters of the alphabet, as well as one way of spelling each of the other 16 phonemes used in the English language, such as ‘igh’ and ‘ch’. Children are taught to blend or sound out phonics to read a variety of words and segment or break down the sounds in simple words for spelling.

In Year 1, children learn more about the variety of ways in which each phoneme can be spelled and they also learn about the different pronunciations made by different letters or groups of letters, such as ‘a’ in ‘ant’ and ‘was’. At the end of Year 1, children will be tested on their phonics knowledge in the Phonics Screening Test. This is a national test featuring 20 real words and 20 pseudo-words.

Children continue to use Read Write Inc in Year 2 until they are ready to be an independent reader. At this point, they will start choosing Accelerated Reader books and do Whole Class Guided reading each day with their teacher.