At Drove, Reading and writing are integrally linked. Each unit of work is based around a high-quality text chosen from ‘Drove’s high-quality-text reading list’. All our texts are carefully chosen to reflect the diversity of our ever changing and modern world. They also allow for our school values to be taught in different contexts, giving our children the opportunity to understand different communities.
Our curriculum enables all children to acquire knowledge, develop their vocabulary and have the tools to communicate their ideas and learning effectively, both orally and in writing. Our learning journey within reading and writing is taught through the use our three phase approach. This consists of three weeks which includes three individual phases where the skills and knowledge are carefully sequenced in well thought out lessons. Both Fiction and Non-Fiction are covered each term.
Writing
Each term in writing, there must be one fiction and one non-fiction written outcome. In phase one & two, there will be up to four written outcomes. This includes previously taught skills and new skills. All skills are taken from year group ‘Integra skills lists’ and ‘The National Curriculum’.
To help demonstrate progress over a unit of work, children are asked to produce two independent pieces of writing per term – one non-fiction and one fiction. These tasks are called Assessment Markers and should take place at the end of phase three in the writing journey. The task set should enable the children to demonstrate the ranges of skills covered in that term. Over the course of the year, these Assessment Markers should show clear progress towards the Age-related Expectations for each year group.
The Teaching of Reading at Drove
At Drove we use the Enrich curriculum, which is a curriculum designed by teachers, for teachers. Nursery – Year 1 will follow the Little Wandle Phonics program first.
Nursery and Reception will use ‘talk 4 writing’ for their literacy lessons, they will look at high quality picture books and use ‘book talk’ to discuss the themes, character and vocabulary within these texts. These will then feed into their writing lessons as a class and within small groups.
Year 1 will also use book talk during reading lessons to look at the themes within books, vocabulary and support understanding of the structure of books, these will also feed into their writing lessons.
Year 2 – Year 6 follow to common curriculum of ‘Reader Theatre’ which is a 9-step approach split between fluency and comprehension skills.
Reading for pleasure
We feel that the children at Drove should enjoy reading and have opportunities to read for pleasure. Book displays in corridors and classrooms promote reading for pleasure in class. Every day, time is devoted to reading for pleasure. This may be sharing a book with a friend, listening to a class book or reading a text of their choice. We also have a fully stocked library that children have access to through the week.
Home Reading
A practice book match to your child's phonics level will be sent home each Friday and must be returned the following Wednesday.
We kindly ask for your support in looking after your child’s school reading book. These books are an important part of our learning resources and need to be kept in good condition so they can be used by all children. Please note that if a reading book is damaged or not returned to school, there will be a replacement charge of £5 per book.
Your child should be able to read their book without your help, They might sound out words and blend them before they read them fluently, If they can’t read a word, read it to them, Talk about the book and celebrate their success. Reading prizes and certificates are used as incentives every 20 reads.