Reading - Statement of intent

At St Boniface we want children to develop a love of reading that will encourage them to become life-long readers. Reading is a key life skill that will benefit them throughout their lives.

In the early years and in Key Stage 1, reading focuses mainly on ensuring children know and can use phonics and ‘red’ words to decode text. Comprehension at this level focuses mainly on retrieval skills using picture as well as contextual cues. We use the ‘Success for All’ phonics programme to teach phonics on a daily basis and the children take home a reading book from the Oxford Reading Tree scheme. In Reception and Year 1, children have regular ‘shared reader’ reading lessons. Children are encouraged to change their books at least once every week. Children continue on the reading scheme in Key Stage 2 until they reach the 'free choice’ section. As the reader develops in Key Stage 2, the focus shifts to developing a deeper comprehension of the text and the ability to discuss and evidence opinions.
Reading lessons focus on developing vocabulary and micro reading or close reading of the text. Well-chosen quality texts are used to enrich children's vocabulary and develop their comprehension. Teachers lead discussions developing the children's understanding of specific age appropriate reading skills. Children regularly read aloud to teachers and support staff to develop their decoding and comprehension skills.
All children are encouraged to read widely across both fiction and non-fiction to develop their knowledge of themselves and the world in which they live, to gain knowledge across the curriculum and develop their comprehension skills.
When children leave St Boniface we want all children to be fluent, confident readers who are able to successfully comprehend and understand a wide range of texts. We want pupils to develop a love of reading, a good knowledge of a range of authors and be able to understand more about the world in which they live, through the knowledge they gain from texts.