We acknowledge that reading for pleasure is one the most vital things you can do and increases your chances of success in whatever field you choose. It is one of the most important skills that a child can learn. Reading for pleasure helps to develop language, imagination, and creativity. It also helps children to understand more about the world around them and develop vital social-emotional skills.

As staff we are keen readers and love to share our views on literature with the children in our classes. Our Reading Lead Teacher attends "Teachers as Readers" groups  to share thoughts on and enjoy quality texts with colleagues from different schools.

Indeed Reading for Pleasure and Book Talk is a key part of our curriculum. Class teachers aim to read a shared quality text to the children every day. Children also have opportunities to select their own RfP books, which they read alongside their reading practice book/decodable book, from their class library. Children regularly bring in books from home and discuss them during book talk sessions. This has nurtured a love of reading within many of our more reluctant readers, providing the skills they need for success in the wider curriculum.

We partake in the “Lincolnshire Reading Pledge”; the ultimate aim of which, is to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, needs or abilities, becomes a confident, fluent and enthusiastic reader. Having gained our Bronze Award, we are now aiming for Silver. 

This has opened up a wealth of CPD for all staff via a dedicated webpage (alongside a focus on World Book Day – another chance for teachers to talk about their favourite books past and present, National Poetry Day – we were entertained by children reading their own funny rhyming narrative poems based on characters from Dahl’s Dirty Beasts and Revolting Rhymes, reading areas in classrooms, a story-telling session with Bemma Akyeampong from “African Ark”, learning about African culture through text, singing, dancing and art. and participation in the local library Summer Reading Challenge), one of the most powerful results has been the creation of our children’s “Reading Ambassadors” group (see “extra-curricular activities” page). A group of enthusiastic readers from across the year groups, these children meet regularly, and spread the message of the joy that reading can bring.

The following article "Read aloud to children: 7 steps to making it magical" from the Open University is well-worth a read.: https://ounews.co/education-languages-health/childhood-youth/reading-with-children-7-steps-to-making-it-magical/