Reading

Early reading skills are developed in Reception and Key Stage 1 through our daily systematic synthetic phonics teaching. Children develop confidence and fluency by learning to read with trained adults in school, as well as taking home reading books matched to their phonics knowledge to read again with adults at home. Children take home books from the Collins Big Cat for Little Wandle reading scheme. Parent workshops support parents with how to support children’s reading at home.

A love of reading is promoted by daily story time from Reception to Year 6, where teachers choose and read diverse and high-quality texts for children to listen to and enjoy, discover new and exciting authors, as well as learn new vocabulary. 

At Christ Church School we also have fantastic reading volunteers, hold second hand book sales, celebrate World Book Day and visit our local bookshop where we purchase new and enticing books regularly. This means our library and book corners always have something for all children to be excited to read.

Teachers and children track books they are reading in Key Stage 2 using bookmarks and reading displays. There is also a fantastic culture of recommending books to peers within and across classes.

Phonics

Our daily systematic synthetic phonics teaching follows the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme. Children begin this learning as soon as they enter Reception, giving them early success in reading and writing, and work through Phases 2-5 by the end of Year 1. There is a ‘keep up’ programme of interventions for those children who require additional teaching and support. A very high majority of children pass the statutory phonics check at the end of Year 1.

We provide a range of information and support for parents about our phonics teaching and how they can support their children’s learning at home. You can find links to Little Wandle parent resources here.

You can read our Autumn 2021 curriculum report for English here.

You can read our Autumn 2022 curriculum report for English here.

You can read our Autumn 2023 curriculum report for English here.

You can read our Autumn 2021 curriculum report for Phonics here.

You can read our Autumn 2022 curriculum report for Phonics here.

You can read our Autumn 2023 curriculum report for Phonics here.