Hallgate’s Reading Vision

At Hallgate, our aim is that children leave our school with a love of reading and the skills that they need to equip them for the next stage in their education. We believe that if we equip children with the correct reading tools, they will be able to use them effectively within a literate world. We want them to have experience of a wide range of high quality texts that will excite them and engage their interest. We recognise that reading development is closely linked to that of writing; it is by drawing upon examples from a wide range of texts that pupils come to understand how writers write and are able to develop as writers themselves.

Foundation Stage and Year 1

In Foundation and Year 1, we teach our children to read using the phonics scheme Bug Club.
Children have a daily phonics session where they learn to recognise phonemes, learn to read and spell words.
Children read on a regular basis in small groups and as a whole class. All children read phonetically decodable books that link to the phoneme that they are currently learning in their phonics session.

Year 2 and Key Stage 2

Children in Year 2 and Key Stage 2 develop reading skills through independent reading, whole class guided reading and shared reading. During guided reading and English sessions, children explore a wide range of genres which allow them to understand what they are reading. Children are given opportunities to explore texts and discuss the purpose, themes and audience of texts.

Home Reading

Here at Hallgate Primary School, we believe that reading is extremely important. A great deal can be done at home to develop your child’s reading skills. Reading aloud to children can help them to enjoy stories they might struggle to read themselves. This helps reluctant readers by removing the pressure. You can try sharing the reading, so you read a page or paragraph each followed by a discussion of the text development, language and structure. Research shows that reading with your child is the single most important thing you can do to help your child's education.

In Foundation Stage and Year 1, children bring regular books home from the phonics Bug Club scheme to share and read at home with an adult. These books directly link with the phonemes that they are currently learning in school.
In Year 2 and Key Stage 2 children bring books home on a regular basis from the Accelerated Reading Scheme; once children have finished a book, they complete an online reading quiz to ensure that they understand every book that they read. We have provided a range of approaches for each reading level that can be used to support and develop a child’s comprehensive understanding. We have put together a list of possible questions to help you with conversations about your child’s reading.