We believe reading opens all doors. Our ambition is that all children become fluent readers by the end of Key Stage 1, able to decode, blend and segment confidently. Once these skills are secure, children can access the full curriculum and begin to read for pleasure, which is our ultimate goal.
We follow the Read Write Inc programme, beginning in Nursery and continuing through Reception and Key Stage 1. Children are regularly assessed and taught in matched groups to ensure appropriate challenge and rapid progress.
In Nursery, children develop the foundations for phonics through high-quality stories, rhymes, songs and listening activities, alongside early exposure to sounds and oral blending. In Reception and Year 1, children receive daily phonics lessons, building quickly to full sessions, with regular review to secure fluency.
Children who need additional support receive targeted Keep-up lessons in Reception and Year 1, and Rapid Catch-up support in Years 2 and 3, ensuring no child falls behind. Reading practice sessions focus on decoding, fluency and comprehension using carefully matched decodable texts.
Pupils develop secure phonics knowledge, strong decoding skills and growing reading fluency. Regular assessment and timely intervention ensure children make strong progress and build confidence as readers. By the end of Key Stage 1, pupils are well prepared to read widely, independently and for pleasure.
For more information on the Read Write Inc programme and how to support your child at home, click here.
Reading with your child is one of the most important ways to support learning. Practising with the decodable phonics book helps children apply the sounds they have learned, while sharing stories and books for pleasure builds vocabulary and comprehension. Talking about books, asking questions and making predictions further supports reading development.
Children take home a decodable reading book each week alongside a reading-for-pleasure book. We run phonics workshops for Reception parents to explain how reading is taught and how families can support learning at home. Consistent approaches across school ensure children experience a clear, structured and supportive reading journey.
