English
Reading
At Woolpit Primary Academy we foster a love of reading because we understand the importance that reading plays in developing children’s confidence and in allowing them full access to the wider curriculum. We want to ensure our pupils are ready for the next stage of their education and provide them with crucial skills and knowledge which will aid their future success.
In Early Years and Year 1 the children read in a group three times per week, focusing on the areas of decoding, prosody and comprehension. These sessions follow planning provided by Little Wandle. Once children are able to read fluently (usually by the Spring Term of Year 2) learning moves towards whole class reading sessions. These sessions focus on the areas of vocabulary, retrieval, sequencing, inference and prediction.
In Key Stage 2, reading is taught through whole class reading sessions which focus on the KS2 reading domains within the National Curriculum. Each session uses high quality texts and focuses on a different domain, supporting children to develop their skills through a variety of paired, echo, whole class and individual reading opportunities.
The Key Stage 2 reading domains that are studied are:
2a – Vocabulary: Explaining word meanings in context.
2b – Retrieve: Finding and recording information.
2c – Summarise: Identifying main ideas across paragraphs.
2d – Inference: Inferring and justifying with evidence.
2e – Predict: Forecasting based on stated/implied details.
2f – Structure/Meaning: Explaining how content contributes to overall meaning.
2g – Author’s Choice: Analysing word choices for effect.
2h – Compare: Making comparisons within texts.
Accelerated Reader
At Woolpit Primary Academy, we use Accelerated Reader to support reading. Children begin the programme when they are fluent and have moved away from phonics-based books. Children start by taking a Star Reader test, which identifies the number range of books a child can choose from within our library. All books in our library are coded with a number. After completing a book, the children then take a reading quiz which identifies progress made in regards to comprehension skills. During our assessment week at the end of each term, children take the Star Reading test again to demonstrate progress made and so that they can move on to a new range of books. This also provides information regarding any extra support children may need.
Reading for Pleasure
We are committed to developing a love of reading for all our children. High-quality texts are used across the curriculum to inspire and to support learning. All classes across the school have dedicated time set aside in the timetable to listen to an adult read as well as to read quietly to themselves.
We offer half-termly opportunities for parents and carers to come into school to read with their children in our Family Reading sessions. All classrooms have a reading area and children are encouraged to use our recently refurbished school library.
Writing
At Woolpit Primary Academy, we provide the children with a variety of opportunities to express themselves through writing. It is not just used in English lessons but across the whole curriculum.
We ensure that the children cover a variety of genres to guarantee that they have plenty of exposure to different techniques and styles. Children develop their skills through inspirational high-quality class texts. To develop confident, independent writers, it is essential that these skills are modelled in the classroom and that spelling, punctuation and grammar skills are linked to the focus genre, which will give the children the confidence to produce their own pieces of writing.
We teach through a planned sequence that culminates in a ‘Big Write’, allowing children to apply all their skills to a final, published piece. These final ‘Big Writes’ then form an individual portfolio of writing for each child which are monitored and assessed to ensure that progression is made throughout the year as well as across all year groups.