Reading

Reading at Days Lane

Intent

At Days Lane, we believe that reading is the key to unlocking all learning. Our intent is to develop confident, fluent and enthusiastic readers who can access the full curriculum and develop a lifelong love of reading. We place reading at the heart of school life, recognising its importance in supporting pupils’ academic success, communication skills and wider personal development.

We aim for every child to:

learn to read quickly and effectively
develop strong comprehension and vocabulary
read fluently with confidence and stamina
enjoy reading for pleasure and choose books independently

Implementation

In the Early Years and Key Stage 1, reading is taught through a structured and systematic phonics programme. We follow Little Wandle, ensuring consistency, fidelity and clear progression in phonics, word recognition and early comprehension skills. Daily phonics teaching is supported by regular practice and carefully matched reading books.
As children move through the school, they are exposed to a wide range of high-quality texts, including fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Teachers model fluent reading and explicitly teach vocabulary and comprehension strategies, enabling pupils to develop deeper understanding of texts across the curriculum.
Reading for pleasure is actively promoted. Pupils have regular opportunities to listen to and enjoy stories, share favourite books and explore a diverse range of authors, genres and cultures. Classrooms are rich reading environments where children are encouraged to discuss books, recommend texts and develop positive reading habits.
Reading is celebrated beyond the classroom. We organise visits to the local library to help pupils access books within the wider community and host author visits to inspire and motivate readers. National events such as World Book Day are celebrated across the school, creating excitement and a shared love of reading.
Our book vending machine has pride of place within the school and is used as a motivational incentive to encourage regular reading. Pupils who read consistently receive a token and are entered into a weekly prize draw. Each week, winners from each phase are invited to select a book from the vending machine, reinforcing the importance and enjoyment of reading.

We are committed to ensuring that no child is left behind. Early identification and targeted support are central to our approach. Interventions include:

Little Wandle Keep Up and Catch Up for pupils who need additional phonics support
Reading fluency interventions to develop accuracy, pace and expression
Reading Plus in Key Stage 2, an evidence-based, adaptive online intervention designed to develop reading stamina, comprehension, vocabulary and silent reading fluency. Reading Plus uses technology to guide eye movements and personalise learning pathways, supporting struggling readers while also providing challenge and enrichment through carefully selected, age-appropriate content.

We work closely with parents and carers, recognising the vital role they play in supporting reading at home. Regular communication and guidance help to strengthen this partnership.

Impact

As a result of our reading curriculum:

pupils become confident, fluent readers who enjoy reading
pupils can access learning across the wider curriculum
gaps in reading are identified early and addressed effectively
pupils develop strong vocabulary and comprehension skills
children leave Days Lane with the skills, confidence and motivation to continue reading successfully in the next stage of their education

Reading at Days Lane is not just a skill to be learned, but a valued and enjoyable part of everyday life, supporting pupils throughout their education and beyond.

Reading

Reading at Days Lane

Intent

Implementation

Impact

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