Reading quickly and fluently unlocks comprehension of written texts. Anything that occupies our attention limits our ability to think and, if our cognitive resources are being used to decode words, then we will have fewer resources with which to consider the meaning of those words. In order to optimise reading fluency, all children read aloud in whole class reading lessons.
At David Livingstone Academy, we believe that reading is the foundation of successful learning. As such, reading is at the heart of our school day, and we have a systematic approach to developing the skills required to be an effective reader.
Reading begins with a focus on decoding; pupils in EYFS and Key Stage One take part in a daily phonics lesson using ‘Sounds Write’, a systematic approach to learning the 44 sounds in the English language. Phonics instruction does not conclude at the end Key Stage One; pupils in Key Stage 2 continue with phonics lessons three times per week, which support them in decoding further spellings of sounds and in understanding the etymology of words.
We know the importance of selecting ambitious yet accessible texts for our pupils. Therefore, we have curated a canon of high-quality, culturally, historically and contextually diverse books to suit the needs of our learners. This begins in the Foundation Stage where well-known books, traditional tales and culturally rich stories are shared. Pupils are encouraged to learn stories orally, preparing them for their journey as readers. As pupils make their way through Key Stage One and Key Stage Two, they take part in daily whole-class reading lessons which focus on developing fluency, prosody and understanding of the texts. Rigorous and intentional close-reading sessions with text-dependent questioning enable children to increase their vocabulary and level of understanding. During these lessons, teachers model effective prosody; this explicit modelling of expression, emphasis, intonation, volume, speed and movement is essential to support children in their comprehension of some of the subtleties of more challenging literature.
Finally, we want our pupils to develop a life-long enjoyment of reading, and are committed to fostering reading for pleasure. To support this, teachers read to their class every day, and actively engage in discussion with pupils about their independent reading.