At Bitterne CE Primary School, we believe that reading is a life skill and this is nurtured so that every child develops a love of reading. Each year, the children are taught to read age-appropriate texts fluently, decode and understand new vocabulary and ask questions to ensure they understand what they have read. Our reading curriculum from Year R - Year 6, exposes the children to a wide-range of literature that will enthuse, challenge and ignite their love of reading. 

EYFS
At the start of Year R, the children will begin by reading wordless books to encourage their story language and prediction skills and each day children are taught phonics to help start their journey of reading. Once children have learnt a new sound, worded books are sent home weekly to help consolidate and practise sounding out and blending of words. As well as developing their phonics knowledge, an emphasis is also put on comprehension skills and fluency through whole class reading sessions. These sessions include getting the children to learn a familiar story and asking questions about characters, plots or what might happen next.

Key Stage One
In Year One, phonics continues to be taught alongside whole class reading. Each day, children are taught a new sound which is then practised through the lesson and applied to help develop fluency. Reading books are sent home weekly to match each child’s phonetical ability to help consolidate and practise reading the taught sounds fluently. As part of the reading curriculum, the children are also taught comprehension skills through whole class reading sessions twice a week. 

By Year Two, children will have covered all the phonics sounds needed to become age appropriate readers. Whole class reading sessions are introduced daily to develop fluency, comprehension skills and to widen their knowledge of tier two words. Reading books are sent home weekly to match your child’s reading ability to help consolidate fluency. 

Key Stage Two
In Key Stage Two, children will continue to become fluent in age-appropriate books. Whole class reading sessions will be taught daily to continue to develop fluency, comprehension skills and to further widen their knowledge of tier two words. Reading books will be sent home weekly to match your child’s reading ability. 

How can I help my child with their reading at home?
Speak to your child’s class teacher to discuss which skills can be consolidated at home. Below, you will also find a useful guide to help with reading at home. This includes: top tips for reading at home, support using the VIPERS questions and filling out their reading logs.

Reading Logs
Each child, will receive a new reading log at the start of the year. This will be checked by the class teacher weekly to ensure that your child is reading three times a week at home. This includes once on Bug Club and twice with a fiction or non-fiction book they bring home from school. If your child reads with an adult in school, this will also be logged in their reading logs or on SEESAW. Please make sure your child brings their reading books and reading log in each day. 

Bug Club 
Every child in school have their own logins to access Bug Club. This is an online platform for them to access age-appropriate books. The focus of Bug Club is practising comprehension questions related to the VIPERS strands we use in school. Your child should be accessing Bug Club once a week at home to read the book that their class teacher sets.