St. Cuthbert's Primary School Seaham
At St. Cuthbert’s, reading is a top priority throughout our pupils’ time with us. It is our intention to ensure that as soon as children join us they are instilled with the skills to read and a love of books and reading. By the end of their primary education our intention is that all pupils can read fluently and with confidence right across the curriculum and that they have opportunities to explore personal preferences and choices. We ensure that reading is a joyful and valued experience and that pupils have access to rich text and adults who model excellent reading, instilling a love of literature.
We intend all children to leave St. Cuthbert’s with a rich vocabulary that provides them with the ability to use and mould language for a range of purpose.
We encourage all pupils to read widely across both fiction, poetry and non-fiction to develop:
– knowledge of themselves and the world in which they live;
– an appreciation and love of reading;
– knowledge across the curriculum;
– comprehension skills.
Early Reading
Early reading and phonics are a central part of learning at St Cuthbert’s and we ensure that we have reading books that fully match our phonics scheme as well as a range of rich, shared reading books for children to enjoy with adults. Parents can find out more using our information leaflet below and through looking at our phonics page.
Reading after phonics
Once children have mastered phonics, they move onto a rage of banded reading books which are matched to their ability. We also have a varied collection of books and monthly magazine subscriptions in each class library and access to a whole school library which is equipped with a wide variety of fiction, non fiction and poetry. Pupils are encouraged to take books they are interested in, not only books that are in their given band.
All classes from Year 2 take part in whole class reading sessions which focus on skills of fluency and comprehension based around the texts or themes they are using in class. Teachers model reading effectively and pupils enjoy storytimes in class and the library.
Children in Year 5 and 6 take part in the Reading Plus programme which helps pupils improve their fluency and comprehension on a more individualised level. You can find out more about the programme here.
Enrichment
We have regular ‘little library’ clubs, take part in World Book Day each year and enjoy regular visits from local author Adam Bushnell, who shares his love of reading and writing stories with us.