Reading & Phonics

We love reading at Withernsea Primary School!

Withernsea Primary School Reading Policy 2022 2023

Here at Withernsea Primary School, reading is at the heart of everything we do. It is our belief that every child can become a proficient reader. Children who are good at reading do more of it meaning they learn more, and they expand their vocabulary, which allows them access to more learning. We are relentless in our drive to remove all barriers to enable all children to feel confident and have the knowledge required to be successful readers.

Children at Withernsea Primary School in Foundation Stage and KS1, follow the Read Write Inc programme. Read Write Inc (RWI) is a complete phonics and literacy programme which helps all children learn to read fluently and at speed so they can focus on developing their skills in reading comprehension and writing composition.

Children learn how to ‘read’ the sounds in words and how those sounds can be written down. This is essential for reading, but it also helps children learn to spell well. Once children can blend sounds together to read words, they practise reading books that match the phonics and the ‘tricky words’ that they know.

Find out more about Read write Inc.

Parent video: What is Read Write Inc Phonics – YouTube

Most children will master these early skills by the end of Y1. However, some children will need further time and consolidation and so, where children need further support with reading, the Read Write Inc program continues to be used throughout KS2 as required.

The teaching of reading comprehension is carefully considered, with high quality texts at the core of our curriculum. From Year 2, the children will be part of a whole class guided reading session based on an engaging and challenging text. Each session is carefully structured to offer a consistent and progressive approach building on previous knowledge and moving learning forward.

Reading for pleasure is an important part of the reading curriculum here at Withernsea and the children are given the time to read, and most importantly, to discuss the books they like regularly. Each class has a shared reading for pleasure book.

In addition, each classroom has an established reading area. This is a comfortable and stimulating area that includes a wide selection of high-quality books.

It is no secret that reading activities at home are an important supplement to the classroom; but there’s more to it than that. There are things that parents can give children at home that the classrooms cannot provide. The sharing and exploration of a great book with your child, one to one and in a relaxing and comfortable environment is priceless. Reading at home is both encouraged and rewarded here at Withernsea Primary School.