Intent

At Asquith Primary School we strive to help our children connect to the wider world through developing them into articulate and imaginative communicators, who are well-equipped with the skills they need to become life-long learners. Therefore, we have designed our reading curriculum with the intent that all children, regardless of background, will become fluent, insightful readers who can confidently communicate their ideas and opinions both verbally and in writing, and demonstrate their knowledge by applying it to all areas of their learning. It is our intention to immerse our pupils in the wonders of quality texts, to instil a love for reading that stays with them throughout their lives. We believe that a secure basis in reading skills is crucial to a high-quality education and will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as a member of society.

Implementation

• Our curriculum is built around the use of quality texts that widen our children’s knowledge and understanding of the world through presenting new ideas, challenging stereotypes, expressing different views and presenting ethical viewpoints.
• Each year group has a prescribed ‘Book Spine’ that ensures children benefit from listening to a variety of texts being read every day. Teachers are also free to include class favourites or new authors to supplement the main text and expand children’s knowledge.
• Quality texts are also used to enhance topic and science units, as this gives the children a rich and varied reading experience.
• In the Foundation Stage and Year 1, Read Write Inc. Phonics is the vehicle that we use to teach early reading skills. We take a rigorous approach to phonics to ensure that all pupils learn to read fluently.  
• In Years 2-6, we teach reading skills through Talk for Reading. Comprehension is the focus of lessons at this stage of develoment, as the majority of children can read with fluency and expression. The children work on the skills of retrieving information, summarising, interpreting challenging vocabulary, predicting, comparing, inferring, and analysing author intent. Children take part in discussions where these skills are developed through questioning, debate and justification of ideas and opinions. Children also have the opportunity to answer written questions, pose questions, write in the style of the author and write book reviews, so that they also develop their reasoning and communication skills in written form.
• Shared reading also takes place in Talk for Writing lessons, as well as in cross-curricular subjects, which gives children a solid purpose for reading.

Impact

• Pupils leave their primary education being able to read with fluency and expression across a wide range of genres and for different purposes.
• Pupils leave their primary education with a wide knowledge of quality texts and a deep-rooted pleasure in reading.
• Pupils are able to effectively discuss what they have read and make critical judgements about their reading.
• Pupils can formulate arguments and support them with solid reasoning and evidence
• Pupils will be independent thinkers.