English Reading and Writing
‘When I read great literature, great drama, speeches, or sermons, I feel that the human mind has not achieved anything greater
than the ability to share feelings and thoughts through language.’
James Earl Jones
Through the ambition of our English curriculum, we want our children to leave Kingsholm as readers and writers who are confident in communicating.
Reading at Kingsholm C of E Primary School and Nursery
Early Reading - Phonics
In EYFS and Key Stage One all children have a daily Phonics session. This DfE validated Phonics scheme provides progressive lessons and interventions that are well resourced and support the children in developing their reading and writing skills. Each lesson is carefully structured to ensure that it includes opportunities to revisit, practice new content and apply it through both reading and writing. To support their development in reading, the children have a phonically decodable reading book.
Early Reading - Guided Reading
In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, the children also have a daily Guided Reading session. Through planned small group sessions the children develop their decoding , fluency and comprehension skills through adult led teaching and independent application.
Reading in KS2
From Year 3 – Year 6 we use Destination Reader to deliver our Reading Curriculum. It involves daily sessions incorporating whole class modelling prior to the children applying these skills through partner work and independent reading. Children deepen their understanding of the texts they read through the systematic use of a series of strategies and language stems.
The approach encompasses the key principles of effective reading provision and fully meets the requirements of the National Curriculum by creating deep understanding of texts, developing oracy around reading and increasing breadth of reading. Destination Reader also helps to build a culture of reading for pleasure and purpose.
The novels used to deliver Destination Reader are linked to our Reading Spine and they are supplemented by carefully chosen Non Fiction texts to ensure the children get a rich and varied reading diet.
For more information: Destination Reader (per school) | Hackney Services for Schools
Accelerated Reader
At Kingsholm we use Accelerated Reader to ensure that our children get the opportunity to practice reading both in school and at home. Regular summative and formative assessment through the use of Star Assessments and Book Quizzes allows children to confidently choose a book that will both consolidate and appropriately challenge them to progress. Individual reading recommendations use students’ interests and reading levels to suggest “just-right” titles—or students can self-select from a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books including online books.
For more information: Accelerated Reader | Renaissance Learning
Daily Read Aloud Sessions
Across the school, classes have a timetabled session where they are read to by a teacher. The books that are shared during this session are ones that are chosen to engage the children in a variety of age appropriate stories. Some come from our reading spine ( see below) sand other are chosen by the children from the class book area.
The Kingsholm Reading Spine
At Kingsholm C of E Primary School and Nursery we are committed to instilling a lifelong love of Reading for all our children. As part of our commitment to this we have designed a ‘Reading Spine’ to support and compliment the teaching of Reading and our Read Aloud Programme. The Reading Spine books have been carefully selected because they are stories that children will love. They are stories that reflect our community and Modern Britain. They are stories written by award winning authors and illustrators—some well known and loved by other generations and some new rising stars of children’s literature.
The books have been chosen to compliment our curriculum and allow the children to make links through and across their learning including providing a starting point for reading journeys that will allow self-exploration of other books written by our chosen authors or books with similar themes. Within each year group children will experience stories, non-fiction and poetry.
These are not the only books that children will be read but they are ones that we want every child to enjoy as part of our rich, engaging curriculum. In EYFS and KS1 the children will share the books regularly over the year so the children became familiar with the plot, language and illustrations—we want them to become favourites that the children enjoy over and over again.
In Key Stage 2, in addition to the age appropriate picture books, poetry and non-fiction the children will read a class novel each term. This novels will form part of the daily read aloud session as well as being the core text for the teaching of reading through our use of Destination Reader to deliver the teaching of reading.
Each class will have multiple copies of the books and they will also be available in our library so children can borrow them to share them with their family and friends.
While it is our intention that in future years children will be excited in anticipation of the books they will be reading in class, this year we are revealing the books to the children termly. Here are a selection of the books the children have read so far…
Nursery Book Titles
Reception Book Titles
Year 1 Book Titles
Year 2 Book Titles
Year 3 Book Titles
Year 4 Book Titles
Year 5 Book Titles
Year 6 Book Titles
Our Library
We are very lucky to have a lovely library space that was created through a generous donation from a past pupil. This year we have been auditing the books we have and re cataloguing to ensure that the books we have are well matched to our children’s interests, our curriculum and promoting a love of reading. While the library has remained open, the relaunch of children being able to take home a school library book along side their home school reader will happen after the Easter Holiday.
Reading Enrichment
We want reading to have a valued and loved place at the heart of our school. To support this we also build in opportunities for the children to read, meet authors and celebrate their love of books. KS2 take part in activities offered by the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Visits for all classes to Gloucester Library are planned so that all children will have a library card and as well as access to the library they will have access to ‘Book Box.’ In addition, Book Week and World Book Day allow us to plan and deliver events that support a love of reading and books. We are also very lucky that we have a number of dedicated volunteers who come and regularly read with children. There support and commitment is really appreciated.
10 Top Tips for Reading with your Children at Home
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10 Top Tips for Reading with your Children at Home | [pdf 94KB] |
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Writing at Kingsholm C of E Primary School and Nursery
Talk for Writing
We use Talk for Writing to deliver our Writing Curriculum at Kingsholm C of E Primary School and Nursery. The Talk for Writing approach enables children to read and write independently for a variety of audiences and purposes within different subjects. A key feature is that children internalise the language structures needed to write through ‘talking the text’, as well as close reading. The approach moves from dependence towards independence, with the teacher using shared and guided teaching to develop the ability in children to write creatively and powerfully. We carefully select stories and Non Fiction texts that will engage the children and compliment and supplement our curriculum.
Please find the Talk for Writing overview below.
For more information: What is Talk for Writing? - Talk for Writing
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Talk for Writing Unit Overview | [pdf 118KB] |
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Teaching Handwriting at Kingsholm
To ensure a consistent approach to the teaching of handwriting we use Unlocking Handwriting. This programme has a strong focus on developing fine motor skills as part of a skills progression that leads to cursive writing. It is taught in timetabled slots from EYFS to Year 6 and the children are given plenty of opportunities to practice in both writing lessons and across the curriculum.