📚 Reading at Petteril Bank Primary School

“The whole world opened to me when I learned to read.”– Mary McLeod Bethune

🌟 Our Approach to Reading

At Petteril Bank Primary School, we believe that reading is the key that unlocks learning across the curriculum. We are committed to developing fluent, enthusiastic readers who not only can read but choose to read for pleasure. Our comprehensive approach combines systematic phonics teaching, whole-class reading instruction, daily reading practice, and dedicated time for reading enjoyment.

📊 Our Reading Journey

Our consistent approach to teaching reading has led to continually improving outcomes. We are passionate about ensuring all our pupils leave our school secondary reading, reading with fluency and enjoying books.

📚 How We Teach Reading

Early Reading and Phonics

We use the systematic Read Write Inc (RWI) phonics programme to teach early reading skills. Children learn:

The 44 common sounds in English
How to blend sounds into words for reading
How to segment words into sounds for spelling
How to read words containing taught sounds and ‘tricky words’

Whole-Class Reading Approach

From Year 3 to Year 6, we use a whole-class reading approach that:

Engages all children with high-quality texts
Teaches specific reading skills (vocabulary, inference, prediction, explanation, retrieval, and summarizing)
Develops deeper comprehension through structured discussion
Enables teachers to model expert reading behaviours

EEF Reading Theatre

We incorporate Reading Theatre techniques from the Education Endowment Foundation to:

Build reading fluency through repeated readings
Develop expressive reading and prosody (rhythm, stress, and intonation)
Enhance comprehension through performance
Boost confidence and engagement with texts

Children practice reading aloud with expression, working toward fluent, meaningful delivery of text, just as actors rehearse for performance.

Reading Spine

Our carefully curated Reading Spine ensures children experience a rich diet of high-quality literature throughout their time at school. Each year group explores:

Classic and contemporary fiction
Poetry from different traditions
Non-fiction texts linked to curriculum topics
Diverse authors representing different cultures and perspectives

Reading spine - PBS

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Individual Reading Practice

All children have regular opportunities to:

Read one-to-one with adults in school
Practice with books matched to their reading ability
Discuss their reading and receive targeted feedback
Build fluency through regular practice

Reading for Pleasure

Every day includes dedicated time for Reading for Pleasure where:

Teachers read aloud to model enjoyment and fluency
Children engage with high-quality literature beyond their independent reading level
Reading environments celebrate and promote books
Children develop preferences and reading identities

Madeleine Lindley “Talk Through Stories” Approach

In EYFS through Year 3, we use the Madeleine Lindley Talk Through Stories approach to:

Build vocabulary through rich picture books
Develop oral language skills through structured discussion
Support comprehension through visual literacy
Foster a love of stories and literature

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How Parents Can Support Reading at Home

1️⃣ Daily Reading Practice

Listen to your child read their school reading book for 10-15 minutes daily
For early readers, practice sounds and blending using phonics skills
For developing readers, focus on fluency and expression
For confident readers, discuss the text and ask questions

2️⃣ Reading Aloud to Your Child

Continue reading to your child even when they can read independently
Choose books beyond their reading level to develop vocabulary and comprehension
Use different voices for characters to make stories come alive
Talk about stories, discussing characters, plot, and predictions

3️⃣ Supporting Whole-Class Reading at Home

Ask your child about the class book they’re studying
Discuss vocabulary from texts using our VIPERS prompt cards (sent home termly)
Support with any reading homework or pre-reading tasks
Connect to other books by the same author or on similar themes

4️⃣ Building a Reading Routine

Establish a regular reading time each day
Create a comfortable reading environment at home
Visit the local library regularly to borrow new books
Let your child see you reading for pleasure

📚 Our Reading Spine: Key Books by Year Group

PBS Reading road map