Reading

Early Reading  EYFS-Year 1 

Phonics and Early Reading

In EYFS and Year 1,  children use the Big Cat Little Wandle Reading Books which are fuly decodable and matched to the Little Wandle programme of progression. 

You can see the progression map for Little Wandle Phonics here: 

These books::

• Exactly match the Little Wandle phonics progression 

• Present only GPCs that have been taught 

• Include only tricky words that have been taught 

Books are matched to children’s phonic knowledge based on data from half termly assessments.  

The same book is sent home to practice fluent reading.

* In Reception reading books with words are sent home as soon as the child can blend. Prior to this wordless books are used.

Reading Practice sessions are timetabled in accordance with Little Wandle Scheme. They are taught by a trained teacher or teaching assistant in small group

Children also take home a reading for pleasure book - The selection of this book is supported and  the session develops  book talk, familiarisation of authors and a love of books.

Year 2 

In Year 2 children will transition from the decodable Little Wandle Big Cats to Big Cats levelled reading  books. Children will then be moved to access Reading Plus based on assessments of  fluency and accuracy  .

When reading with Big Cats levelled books children are taught in groups of 6 with a fully trained adult. Sessions focus on comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. 

Big Cat Practise readers are assessed using the Big Cat reading assessment which assesses fluency and reading accuracy. Children in year 2 also have 2 whole class reading sessions per week using CUSP reading. 

Year 3 - 6

Children are taught using CUSP whole class reading sessions three times per week and access Reading Plus twice a week. 

Reading Plus

Reading Plus is accessed by children from Year 2 to Year 6 at the correct individual level based on assessment. Reading Plus develops fluency and comprehension skills. 

Thematic Mapping

The texts in our reading scheme have been mapped carefully to ensure that a breadth of experiences, authors, texts and themes are addressed across the Primary years. When mapping texts thematically, we have ensured a breadth that includes: continuity of author; heritage texts; texts with a BAME author or protagonist; texts with a strong female role model; texts that include a specific social, ethical or moral issue. 

Home Reading

All children reading Big Cat books for Little Wandle or who have moved to the Big Cat levelled books  take the Big Cat book home . This reinforces the teaching which has taken place in school during the week. They also take home a book which is not decodable to read for pleasure . They may be able to read this book themselves or have someone else read it to the,

Children who are on Reading Plus can log in from home to access books at their correct reading level. They also take a book from the school library to read for pleasure. 

All communication with parents/carers about home reading is done through seesaw.

SEND Learners and children who require additional reading support

All children are assessed using the assessment tool appropriate to their stage of reading: Little Wandle, Big Cats accuracy and fluency test and Reading Plus. They are then placed on a programme of support which directly supports their needs.  This can be intensive phonics intervention, IDL or other programmes as advised by external agencies. These programmes are carefully monitored by the early reading lead and senco. 

Children who are experiencing specific and significant difficulties with reading are referred to outside agencies such as SENISS and the Educational Psychologist.

All staff are trained to deliver phonics interventions. We have a specialist reading teacher who is trained to deliver reading intervention and programmes recommended by external specialists.