Reading
At Highburton First School, we believe that reading is a fundamental part of education. Children that read for pleasure and enjoy reading achieve more at school, in every subject area. Reading is a very important life skill and one that everyone uses everyday!
'A love of reading is the biggest indicator of future academic success.'
OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
Curriculum Rationale
At Highburton First Academy, reading is a cornerstone of our curriculum and a key priority for our entire school community. We are committed to developing confident, fluent readers who not only succeed academically but also develop a lifelong love of reading. This is achieved through a carefully structured, research-informed reading curriculum and a whole-school culture that celebrates the power of books.
A Whole-School Commitment to Reading
Reading is embedded into every part of the school day. Whole-class reading sessions take place during protected time each morning, establishing a consistent and focused approach to the teaching of reading. Later in the day, time is dedicated to reading for pleasure through library visits, DEaL sessions (Drop Everything and Listen), and whole-class novel reading, ensuring that children are exposed to a diverse range of high-quality texts in a variety of settings.
Reading is celebrated and promoted throughout the school with carefully designed classroom reading areas featuring five consistent zones:
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Spotlight Author
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Multicultural texts
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Topic books (linked to foundation subjects)
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Fiction and non-fiction
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Poetry
This consistency ensures that all children experience a broad and balanced literary diet across genres, cultures, and themes.
Parental Engagement and Community Involvement
We believe in building strong home-school partnerships to support reading development. Parents are regularly engaged through information evenings, accessible online resources, and newsletter updates. These platforms reinforce the importance of reading and provide guidance on how families can support their child’s reading journey at home.
Assessment and Targeted Support
Ongoing assessment is central to our reading provision. Teachers use a combination of NFER data and professional judgement to identify each child’s reading ability and next steps. Termly pupil progress meetings enable the identification of children not yet working at the expected standard. High-quality, teacher-led interventions are then designed and delivered to ensure every child receives the support they need.
Developing Teacher Expertise
To ensure the highest standards of teaching, reading is a regular focus of professional development. CPD is strategically planned on a half-termly basis, informed by school monitoring, pupil data, and collaboration with the Trust English Hub. Reading leaders provide ongoing coaching, and key messages are shared consistently in weekly briefings and through peer support structures. These processes ensure staff have both the confidence and knowledge to teach reading effectively and adaptively.
Books That Inspire Readers and Writers
The books chosen for writing units are carefully selected to match the interests and backgrounds of our pupils, enriching their cultural capital and contextual understanding. We believe that children write best when inspired by what they read. Reading and writing are purposefully linked, with texts that promote vocabulary development, narrative structure, and deeper comprehension.
Reading as a Social and Shared Experience
We actively foster a community of readers through initiatives such as class book clubs and reading buddy systems. For example, Reception children regularly read with Year 5 pupils, and in the Autumn term, Year 4 and 5 reading leaders take turns reading aloud to all year groups. These shared experiences not only promote a love of reading but also encourage leadership and collaboration across the school.
In summary, reading at Highburton First Academy is not just a subject but a core part of our school culture. Through deliberate teaching, targeted support, engaging environments, and a shared passion for books, we ensure every child leaves us as a reader — inspired, informed, and empowered.
BOOM READER - Digital Reading App
Boom reader offers a digital reading record for our children to interactive with as well as our parents. When you read with your child or your child reads themselves, you can record this on their app. - www.boomreader.co.uk
In Autumn term, parents were invited to a Reading and Phonics information evening. See the PowerPoint delivered below: