WHOLE CLASS reading
The Whole Class Reading journey really begins in the Foundation Stage and builds up throughout the school. Initially this is about listening to texts and responding to questions that the adults ask or explaining their thinking the best way they can. Lower down school staff try to get children to connect their own personal experiences to stories and texts so that they can discuss them confidently. Staff encourage children, even in the Nursery, to understand and explain what is happening in a text. Over time the skills build until the children reach Key Stage Two where whole class reading moves to a new level. Staff across school have very high expectations of what children are able to achieve - the sky is the limit!
The building blocks to Whole Class Reading are laid in EYFS and this starts more formally in Year 1 then develops as the children move through school. This model allows the children to access a text that is age appropriate but at a level beyond what they would possibly read to themselves. The children take part in fluency lessons which focus on pace and content. They do ‘Vocab Busts’ within these lessons as well – helping the children to develop a broad and ambitious vocabulary. The children are then taught specific reading skills which we call ‘The Magnificent Seven’. These skills are taught explicitly and through the text so that the context is apparent. Our aim is that the children will be able to identify within a question, what skill is required in order to find the answer. The children are expected to be able to respond to the full range of question types in both verbal and written formats, building their knowledge, skill and expertise over time. The Key Stage Two whole class reading curriculum is stimulating thanks to the rich, exciting and challenging texts that are being chosen. Feedback from the children and the staff is immensely positive.
In Key Stage Two, we continue to track reading closely and for some children the individual reading continues to ensure that progress is made. Running Records continue to the end of Blue Band so that we can track the children’s skills and identify gaps. After this we continue to encourage the children to choose books to read for pleasure but ensure that their reading material will continue to strengthen their vocabulary and challenge their thinking. We like to recommend books for children to read - staff have excellent knowledge of children's books and like nothing more than to share their favourites!
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