The Teaching Of Reading

Students follow a variety of schemes to build upon their reading skills, dependent on their needs and abilities. This can be seen in our Literacy Pathway. The goal is that students will build upon previous knowledge to become confident and fluent readers.

Phonics

The learning needs and abilities at Broadfield are very broad, we therefore follow two Phonics Schemes throughout school to ensure all needs are met. For some students, they access Phonics through the Twinkl Phonics scheme. This scheme allows opportunities for lots of hands on, multisensory and visual activities. Twinkl Phonics is also accompanied by the Rhino Readers Reading Scheme, where students access reading books and activities based on their phonics progress. The second Phonics Scheme we follow at Broadfield is Read Write Inc.- Fresh Start. This Phonics Scheme is built for Secondary aged students requiring Phonics support. This scheme is also accompanied with reading materials and activity booklets to promote pupil learning and development.

Some students within school experience difficulties communicating verbally and benefit from a total communication environment, with a high emphasis on visual support cues including the use of signs, symbols, pictures, text, gestures, and the spoken word forming a multiple cue. Makaton is used throughout our whole curriculum, including English and Phonics. As a school we also teach students to read through a sight reading scheme called Words First. Words First teaches students to read and write a range of words, including High Frequency words, most of which can’t be segmented. We promote Makaton throughout this reading scheme, where students learn to read, sign and write all words within each set before commencing the books. A range of activities are also accompanied with the scheme.

Reading Schemes We have access to a wide range of age-appropriate reading materials which cater to the varying needs of all of our students.

All students are assessed using phonics screening and the BURTs reading test annually, to ensure the pathway followed is relevant to their needs and challenges students sufficiently. Pathways followed include, but are not constrained to:

· Twinkl Phonics – Rhino Readers

· Read Write Inc – Fresh Start

· Rapid Readers

Students have a minimum of one weekly reading session (typically in our school library) to create opportunities for reading for pleasure independently as well as in groups and/or 1:1 situations.

As well as the prescribed reading schemes, we encourage our students to read a variety of materials which fit their individual interests i.e. magazines, newspapers, graphic novels, and comics.

We are all Readers

At Broadfield, we recognise the importance of reading and ensuring we encourage our students to foster a love reading. Opportunities to read for pleasure are made regularly throughout the school week including:

· Break and lunch time access to the library

· Interactive Reading Displays – Which staff member is behind the book? What have we read?

· Read and Relax Enrichment

· 1:1 Reading sessions with our designated Reading governor

· Use of Online Platforms such as Epic Books

· KS4 Reading Buddies for our KS3 students

· Parent and Child Termly Reading Sessions

· Teachers positively modelling reading in the classroom – Book Chat, Whole Class Reading for Pleasure Opportunities

· Reading aloud to our school therapy dog to build confidence due to the fact that the dog will listen without being judgmental or critical.

We also arrange special events throughout the year to boost engagement and morale in regard to reading such as:

· Author Visits

· Sponsored Read-a-thons

· World Book Day Events

· Reading Champion Termly Awards

· Regular updates on Reading Events i.e. Library Week, Non Fiction November

· Involvement in the Book Trust STEM Challenge