Reading
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Reading
Reading is a fundamental part of everything we do here at Bishops; every child is given the opportunity to read and, most importantly, enjoy reading and to improve.
Our commitment is to being a school where all students are confident readers and reading is fully embedded in our curriculum and school culture.
Our school reading strategy includes four strands:
- Teaching of Reading Across the Curriculum
Reading is a main focus in every curriculum area as it is essential for students to access their learning. This includes teaching explicit vocabulary, modelling fluency, purposeful re-reading, disciplinary reading and student accountability.
- Reading Lessons
All students in KS3 will benefit from structured English-led reading lessons in the library with a focus on reading for enjoyment, group guided reading, individual reading support and termly assessments to monitor progress.
Year 8 and year 9 students will continue the Accelerated Reader Programme which helps us to encourage, manage and monitor your child’s independent reading. Year 7 students are now enrolled on a new programme, the FFT Reading Assessment Programme. This provides a detailed reading profile for individual students, allowing a more targeted approach to supporting their progression in reading.
- Reading and Literacy Interventions
Targeted support is provided for students performing below age-expectations alongside strong classroom teaching for all.
- Reading for enjoyment
We have a school culture in which reading is visible, valued and enjoyed. Our school library holds a growing selection of books, including new releases, and is open daily. Our school Reading Challenge encourages students to read five books selected carefully for their diverse themes, supporting our school values.
Reading is a national priority; being able to demonstrate competent reading skills is essential for subjects across the entire curriculum. Research clearly shows that a student who reads regularly for 20 minutes per day is far more likely to be successful at GCSE level and beyond. Reading fiction regularly is also known to help develop emotional literacy and wellbeing.
At our school, reading is the gateway to academic success, personal development, and future opportunity.
How can I help my child become a better reader?
Your child should always have a book from school in their bag. Please encourage them to read daily for at least 20 minutes. Your child may also enjoy listening to audio books, reading magazines, articles or reference material relating to a hobby or interest.
Some do struggle to find a fiction book they enjoy, but there really is something out there for everyone, so please persevere and ask them to speak to their reading teacher or our librarian for guidance.
Discussing and sharing reading material together is a powerful way for you to gauge their understanding and fluency, as well as an opportunity for vocabulary building. Recommending books you enjoyed at their age, is a great way to promote reading for enjoyment and initiate discussion.
Supporting your child in accessing homework material is also an important role you can play; helping them become familiar with subject specific terminology and phrasing will build confidence and fluency.
What if my child doesn’t like reading?
Some do struggle to find a fiction book they enjoy, but there really is something out there for everyone, so please persevere and ask them to speak to their reading teacher or our librarian for guidance.
Your child may also enjoy listening to audio books, reading magazines, articles or reference material relating to a hobby or interest.
Recommending books you enjoyed at their age, is a great way to promote reading for enjoyment and initiate discussion.
Will my child have to read a book I don’t want them to read?
No. There are many, many choices of books at your child’s level. Your child will never be forced to read a book you find questionable.