Reading

At Pennine Way Primary School, we believe that learning to read is one of the most important skills a child will develop. In the Early Years and Key Stage 1, we teach reading through the Little Wandle  phonics programme. Children take part in daily phonics lessons and read carefully matched books from Little Wandle and Collins Big Cat to help them practise and apply the sounds they have learned. Children read regularly in school with a focus on decoding, fluency and understanding, and books are sent home so that families can continue to support reading. We assess pupils regularly and provide additional support and targeted interventions where needed to ensure every child makes progress and develops confidence as a reader.

As children move through Key Stage 2, they continue to build their fluency, comprehension and enjoyment of reading using a wide range of high-quality Collins Big Cat books and whole-class reading texts. We are committed to ensuring that all children, including those with SEND, receive the support they need to become successful readers through tailored interventions and carefully planned teaching. We know that children make the greatest progress when school and home work together, so we encourage families to read with their child regularly and discuss books at home. We also hold parent workshops and information meetings throughout the year to help families understand how we teach reading and phonics and how they can support their child's reading journey. Alongside our reading curriculum, we actively promote a love of reading through our library, author events, World Book Day celebrations and other exciting reading opportunities across the school.