Reading at St. Martin's:

EYFS:

• In Nursery, children have access to:
• Home learning sacks which contain a focus on a book or reading skills.
• In addition, when children are ready they will be give a home reading book during the summer term to prepare them for Reception. 

• In Reception, children have access to:
• A reading practice book (these are accessible online) which is able to be read fluently by the child and matched to their phonic stage. Children will be provided with a user name and password for online access at home.
• A sharing book: this is not a decodable book but is designed to be shared by the parent and child. Parents are encouraged to read and enjoy the book with their child with a focus on discussing the pictures, predicting, exploring character voices, exploring facts within non-fiction and sharing the love of reading together.

KS1:

• In KS1, children have access to:
• A reading practice book (these are accessible online) which is able to be read fluently by the child and matched to their phonic stage. Children will be provided with a user name and password for online access at home.
• A sharing book: this is not a decodable book but is designed to be shared by the parent and child. Parents are encouraged to read and enjoy the book with their child with a focus on discussing the pictures, predicting, exploring character voices, exploring facts within non-fiction and sharing the love of reading together.

KS2:

• Children will choose their own book to take home based on their Accelerated Reader colour band and ZPD score.
• Children complete a quiz after reading each book and this is recorded in the class reading record.
• Children’s book bands may change after consistent achievement in their quizzes (85% or above). 
• Children sit the STAR reading test half termly and, based on results, their book bands are adjusted accordingly.
• Children will read books from within their numerical range. (Lower end – comfy books; higher end – deep dive/challenge books)
• For further information - please see the document below.

Phonics:

We believe that for all our children to become fluent readers and writers, phonics must be taught through a systematic and structured phonics programme.

We use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to plan and provide daily engaging phonics lessons.

     Nursery:

• In the nursery, children follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised ‘Foundations for Phonics’ guidance. The focus is on daily oral blending and language development through high quality stories and rhymes.
• Quality continuous provision provides children opportunities for children to practise and apply through practical, hands on learning experiences indoor and outdoor.

     Reception and KS1

• In Reception, Y1 and Y2 where appropriate, children follow the progression within Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme. Phonics is taught daily and there is a review session on a Friday.

• Phonics is taught explicitly in whole class sessions in Foundation Stage and KS1 and in groups and/or individually where necessary in KS2.

• Some children will require further practice in addition to the whole class sessions and so these children will access keep up sessions.

• In Reception and Year 1, quality continuous provision provides children opportunities for children to practise and apply through practical, hands on learning experiences indoor and outdoor.