Reading at Mount Pleasant

How have we chosen our reading curriculum?

Our Curriculum is based around the National Curriculum. We believe that a quality reading curriculum should foster in children a passion for reading, as well as a firm grasp of the skills required to be a confident reader. Our reading curriculum is accessible for all, regardless of gender, race, religion or ability. We recognise the importance of a diverse reading culture, where all children feel represented in the texts that they read. We have a range of tools and techniques used to support and enhance the teaching of reading, including the use of IT. Our consistent whole school approach to the teaching of reading ensures that we close any gaps and enable the highest possible number of children to attain well.  
 

We are one of only eight schools in Shropshire who can boast the accolade of being a ‘Leading in Reading Ambassador’ school, which is testament to the quality of our curriculum and provision. 

How do we foster a love of reading in our children?

Books are at the heart of everything we do at Mount Pleasant. We believe that teaching children to read fluently, proficiently and often is one of our most important duties as a school. We aim to grow a love of reading for pleasure in our children, as we recognise the importance of reading for their future success and wellbeing. Our aim is to create a community of life-long readers. We intend to provide an ethos and environment that inspires children to read. We believe through reading, pupils will have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. 

At Mount Pleasant we are lucky enough to have a fantastic non-fiction library. The children can access this with their teachers anytime, and the children in KS2 have a weekly slot in which to choose a book. The library is run by our wonderful year 5 and 6 pupil librarians who are in charge of issuing and returning books, making recommendations and keeping the library organised. A section of the library is dedicated to topics that children have learnt in the previous unit, so that they are easily able to continue their learning of a topic that interests them.

We have a book swap where children can come with books from home that they no longer read to exchange it for another book on the books swap, and a book vending machine where children can choose a book as a prize for wonderful home learning. Children from Year 6 are responsible for choosing books to go in the vending machine, during our yearly trip to Waterstones.

As you walk around Mount Pleasant you will see books and displays about books everywhere. Children always have books near them to access during D.E.A.R (drop everything and read) sessions or when they have finished their tasks. Assemblies regularly focus around a story, as do lessons in class. Each class has a dedicated reading area where children can curl up with a book.

Each week, the whole school participates in “buddy reading”, where a younger child is buddied up with an older child, and together they share a story. This is a fantastic way for the children throughout school to get to know each other, as well as a great way to discover new books and give purpose to our reading.

What books do our children read at Mount Pleasant?

Each book in our curriculum has been carefully chosen by the teachers who teach them. They are all high-quality, accessible texts that provide an appropriate level of challenge to the children in the class. They are linked to our curriculum drivers and the topic for that unit of work.

How do our children learn to read in EYFS?

In EYFS children have a daily phonics lesson following the Song of Sounds phonics scheme. We believe that a vital part of learning to read, particularly for younger readers, is to listen to and enjoy stories. In EYFS the children have stories read to them throughout the day, every day, often with story sacks to bring the stories to life. These are often based on their current topic, or are chosen by the children. The children are taught key reading skills as part of their “guided reading” lessons in EYFS: prediction, retrieval and inference. They also share a weekly poem and non-fiction text. Each child has a phonetically decodable banded reading book which is in line with their phonics knowledge. They read with an adult at school at least twice a week. In EYFS they hold “reading together” parent events where parents can come in to share stories with children at school.

How do our children learn to read in KS1?

In KS1 children have a daily phonics lesson following the Song of Sounds phonics scheme. Children are grouped based on their ability to ensure they are accessing the sounds that they need to learn. They have a class novel which is read to them daily. In order to cultivate their comprehension skills they have class discussions based around the chapter that they read. These discussions have a reading skill “focus”, where the children concentrate on one key reading skill: prediction, retrieval, vocabulary, inference or sequencing. They also share a weekly poem and non-fiction text. Each child has a banded reading book which they read with an adult at school at least twice a week. Children are “benchmarked” regularly so that we ensure they are reading the correct book band to offer them the appropriate level of challenge. If a child is not yet a fluent reader, they also have a phonetically decodable reading book that matches their phonic knowledge and current book band.

How do our children learn to read in KS2?

In KS2 children have a daily guided reading sessions. Twice a week this is based on a chapter from the class novel, and VIPERS questions are used to continue to develop their comprehension skills. Sometimes the chapter is read to the children, and sometimes they read it to themselves, or out loud. Once a fortnight each child has a small group guided reading session with their teacher. Each half term, there will be a week long guided reading focus on a non-fiction text and a poetry text. Each child has a banded reading book to take home. Children are “benchmarked” regularly so that we ensure they are reading the correct book band to offer them the appropriate level of challenge. If a child is not yet a fluent reader by KS2, they continue three phonics lessons per week and receive additional support to help them to close the gap. The children in KS2 also access online reading platforms weekly, either Fiction Express or Read Theory.

How do we expect you to support your child to read at home?

We aim to instil a lifelong love of reading into the children at MPPS, so that they will want to read at school, at home, in the car, on trips and wherever life takes them. Children have a reading record so that they can document any reading at home, be that books, newspapers, audio books, cereal packets. If children read at home three times per week, their avatar moves along on our “Read Around..” posters in the classroom. They might be reading around Shropshire one year, and reading around the world the next. Children can receive prizes in school as they make their way around.