Literacy

The main aim in literacy is to show children how enjoyable reading can be and to help each child reach his or her potential. The school delivers the National Literacy Strategy and follows the Ginn Reading scheme, supported by the Oxford Reading Tree and Rigby. Children are also taught the Nelson cursive writing style.

Through guided reading every child in the school reads every day. In the KS2 years, all the juniors spend 20 minutes every day in group reading, and children read to their teacher individually at least once a week. AT KS1 the children read to their teacher at least twice a week in addition to the daily group guided reading.

The children are encouraged to enjoy a wide range of literature, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays, comics and newspapers. The school has six copies of the local newspaper, the Citizen, delivered every day to encourage children to read and learn about local and national issues. To support this journalists, theatre groups, performance poets and writers are regularly invited in to the school. In recent years both Dick King-Smith and Kaye Umansky have been to talk to the children about reading and writing.

Library

We have a wonderfully resourced library at the school with thousands of books. The PTA regularly makes donations for new books and we hold an annual book fair which enables children to buy books for themselves and the school to spend commission on books fo the library. Each class has a weekly slot in the library and children are encouraged to borrow books each week.