Reading
At Brandon Primary School we aim to develop pupils’ reading in all subjects to support their acquisition of knowledge. We firmly believe in encouraging children to read for pleasure and do everything we can to promote wider reading.
For several years we have celebrated World Book Day with visits from authors such as; Kjarten Poskitt, Adam Stower and Nick Sharratt who provide a unique and inspiring insight into their wonderful world of literature. During this week children have the opportunity to take part in a range of activities that are specifically planned to encourage reading for pleasure. Both children and staff alike particularly look forward to dressing up as their favourite book character, sharing their favourite stories with their peers and participating in a carousel of activities around the school in small mixed age groups.
Reading Overview
- Reading Year 1 – Programme of Study
- Reading Key Stage 1 – Year 2
- Reading Lower Key Stage 2 – Years 3 and 4
- Reading Upper Key Stage 2 – Years 5 and 6
Parental Support
We provide children with a range of reading material in each section of the school levelled scheme. Children are encouraged to choose a book, at their reading ability level, that they will find interesting. We firmly believe that parental support is central to children’s progress in reading. Our home / school links are fundamental in this process and we ask that our parents hear their child(ren) read three times each week.
Each child is given a personal organiser at the start of the school year, which is divided into subsections and provides space for commenting upon your child’s reading each week. Children are rewarded with a special sticker that is placed onto a class reading chart at the end of each week, if they have read three times at home. At the end of each half term stickers are counted up and exchanged for reading tokens, which are then placed into a very special end of term assembly ‘prize draw,’ where children can choose from a range of prizes, which include; books, book tokens and book marks.
Bug Club
Bug Club is a whole school reading programme that hooks children into a lifelong love of reading through stunning books and an incredible online reading world, that are filled to the brim with kid-favourite characters. All children at Brandon Primary School have a unique username and password to access a range of exciting reading material online, that has been specifically allocated to them.
Our School Library
Children are actively encouraged to visit our school library, which provides a comfortable environment for reading and accessing a huge range of reading material. Our library is open for children to visit with parents / carers each Wednesday after school. Children can sit and read with their adult or simply take books away to share in the comfort of their own home.
Phonetic Alphabet
The document below contains a table containing each symbol of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and provides examples of the associated grapheme(s). The table is not a comprehensive alphabetic code chart; it is intended simply as guidance for teachers in understanding the IPA symbols used in the spelling appendix. The pronunciations in the table are, by convention, based on Received Pronunciation and could be significantly different in other accents. This chart is adapted slightly from the version provided on the DfE’s website to support the Year 1 phonics screening check.
We follow the Monster Phonics Scheme. It offers a systematic multi-sensory way to teach phonics allowing children to advance more quickly.
Spelling Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG)
Supporting Your Child’s Learning At Home
Helping your child with their learning at home is important for their continued progress. You can do this by supporting them with their weekly homework, encouraging them to do a little more and by challenging them in the following ways:
- Talking to your child and asking questions about their work and their understanding of the work.
- Listening to your child read and reading to them.
- Practicing times tables.
- Playing board games with your child.
- Sharing physical/ healthy activities such as walking, sports and visiting the local park.
- Cooking/baking with your child. (Measuring and weighing)
- Visiting places of interest such as museum (free), historic buildings
- Keeping a diary
- Joining the local library
- Supplementary maths and English exercises from work books available from WH Smiths, Waterstones and other bookshops.
Resources
Oxford Owl Reading has 250 free eBooks for you to share with your child as well as simple ideas, top tips, activities and games to help your child with their reading at home.
