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READING AT ST MICHAEL'S
READING AT ST MICHAEL'S
The Importance of Reading at St. Michael’s
The Importance of Reading at St. Michael’s
At St. Michael’s, we work hard to inspire our pupils not only to learn to read but also to develop a lifelong love of reading. We firmly believe that reading is one of the most essential life skills. It opens the door to knowledge, imagination, and opportunity, making it central to everything we do.
Reading is at the heart of our curriculum and underpins learning across all subjects. We take a rigorous approach to teaching reading, ensuring pupils are supported to develop fluency, understanding, and confidence. At the same time, we celebrate the joy of books by giving children access to a wide range of authors, genres, and styles.
Our classrooms and wider school environment are rich in books and reading opportunities, indoors and outdoors. We want every child not only to become an independent reader but also to experience the pleasure and adventure that comes with reading. Above all, we strive to foster a positive reading culture where stories, knowledge, and imagination are valued every day.
All staff play a key role in immersing children in the world of literature and nurturing this vital skill that will stay with them for life.
Our Reading Leader
Our Reading Leader
Every school is required to have a dedicated Reading Leader, someone with strong expertise in phonics and early reading, a deep understanding of effective teaching practice, and above all, a passion for helping children become confident readers.
At St. Michael’s, our Reading Leader is Miss Chloe Fryer
Miss Fryer’s role includes:
Monitoring the quality and consistency of phonics and early reading teaching;
Coaching teachers and teaching assistants to build an excellent reading team;
Overseeing reading assessments;
Promoting reading for pleasure and providing opportunities for children to develop this;
Ensuring every child receives the right support to keep up with their reading development.
Through her leadership, we ensure that no child is left behind and that all pupils are given the best possible start on their reading journey.
How Parents Can Support Reading at Home?
How Parents Can Support Reading at Home?
At St. Michael’s, we know that children make the greatest progress in reading when school and home work hand in hand. Parents play a vital role in helping to nurture a love of books and stories.
We encourage families to:
Read together daily – whether it’s a bedtime story, sharing a favourite book, or enjoying magazines and comics.
Complete our ‘Reading Passports’ together - where will your reading take you?
Talk about books – ask questions, make predictions, and discuss characters and events to build understanding.
Be reading role models – let your child see you enjoying reading for pleasure.
Visit the library – explore a wide variety of books and give children the chance to choose for themselves.
Most importantly, keep reading fun and enjoyable. A few minutes of shared reading each day can make a lasting difference to your child’s confidence and love of learning.
Linked below are the slides to previous workshops and handouts, specifically for Reception and the Phase 5 Phonics presentation Year 1 parents.
There is also a modelled reading lesson with Miss Fryer and a group of Reception children on their first decoding session for the week.
Our next workshop will be held on Thursday 25th September 2025.
Top ten book tips
Top ten book tips
To assist parents/carers with the selection of books to read together we have compiled a list of recommended books (both fiction and non-fiction). The lists are not set in stone, rather they can be a guide for the year groups. These books are just a suggestion and further information can be found at your local Libraries/book shops……….Happy Reading for Pleasure!
We hope that these links help parents and carers to support their child with reading. It is important to share books with your child regularly and talk about different types of text. Children who have secure phonic knowledge need to read to an adult and have opportunities to discuss literature:
Everybody read!
'A love of reading is the biggest indicator of future academic success!'
Here is a PowerPoint presentation which outlines the importance of reading to your child. It highlights that every interaction with books has a positive impact on your child's learning.
Take a look at the LittleWandle Website for more information, along with helpful reading tips, book recommendations and much much more...
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/my-letters-and-sounds/everybody-read/
Our Library
Our Library
We have an amazing library filled with an array of books. It is a very stimulating and welcoming area for the children and is overseen by a Teaching Assistant and our Junior Librarians.
The JuniorLibrarians work on a rota system to oversee the management of the Library and take great pride in ensuring it is a wonderful place to come and read. They have given us some quotes about what they think of their library - please click on the link to find out their pupil voice views
We are an Outstanding Reading School!
We are an Outstanding Reading School!
At St. Michael’s we believe that reading is one of the most important life skills that we can instil in our pupils. Across the school we promote a love of reading and develop their skills all pupils so that they:
read easily, fluently and with good understanding
develop the habit of reading widely and often, both for pleasure and information
develop and broaden vocabulary through reading
appreciate our rich and varied cultural heritage
Furthermore, as part of the work we do to adhere to the ‘Basic Skills Quality Mark Award’ we promote the teaching of the basic reading skills is of a high priority for us as a school. Regular reading takes place across the school and we promote a love of reading. We are always striving to maintain being an outstanding reading school.
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