Reading in Key Stage 1

Key Stage 1 (Year groups 1 and 2) is really the time when children ‘take-off’ with their reading skills. Following on from Early Years the children learn to read through a combination of:

· Daily Phonics lessons (*see the Phonics section of our website).

· Guided group reading sessions three times per week with their teacher.

· Home reading practice (at least 3 times per week) – phonetically decodable book, keywords and sounds to learn.

The aim is to have children reading confidently and fluently by the end of Year 1 (90+ words per minute), then further developing their fluency, vocabulary, range of reading material and comprehension skills in Year 2.

At Avonmouth CE Primary we also want children to grow a genuine love of reading books and stories. In our Key Stage 1 classes we have daily (sometimes twice-daily) story times. This is when children listen to adults reading to them. We encourage all children to engage in these times – asking them to predict what might happen next; discussing the story, characters and illustrations; and joining in with familiar phrases or rhymes. We want children to be inspired, excited and intrigued by books. Children are encouraged to share what they love about certain stories and their own reading preferences. By listening to engaging texts, children build up their own bank of story language which they can use in their own writing (through out Talk for Writing approach).

As well as a phonetically decodable reading book (matched accurately to the child’s level), children also take home a ‘sharing book’. This is a high-quality picture book to be shared through the week at home. Parents are required to read this book to their child and share ideas and opinions (‘book talk’).

Children in KS1 have lots of opportunities to read and enjoy books through:

· Exciting and engaging book corners full of high-quality texts – with lots of time given to access these.

· Visits to our local library where each child can borrow a book for one term.

· Use of our own school library.

· Book events in school such as World Book Day.