The teaching of Phonics and EARLY reading at Brooklands 

Reading is the Key to the Universe

Learning to read is the most important thing your child will master at our school. Everything else depends on it, so we put as much energy as we possible can into making sure that every single child learns to read as quickly as possible. We believe that reading opens the door to learning. We want your child to love reading and to want to read for themselves. 

At Brooklands Primary School we use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds (revised) programme to get children off to a flying start with their literacy. Children have daily lessons to develop their reading skills from the beginning of Reception Class, through to Year 2 and for any children in years 3-6 who may need additional support with the decoding of words. 

HOW CAN WE HELP AT HOME?

Reading every day to and with your child, inspiring a love of reading and sharing the enjoyment of books has an incredible impact on a child's engagement with reading. School adults read with your child regularly but the more reading a child does at home really does make a huge difference to the progress and confidence a child has around reading.

We send appropriately levelled books home with all children from Reception to Year 6. Children are assessed in their reading ability (both fluency and comprehension) regularly and so book levels, or bands, are monitored closely.

In addition to their levelled, or banded book, children are also encouraged to select a book that they would like to share with you at home. This may be a book that is far beyond their ability to read, or one that they can easily read but enjoy.

The children will have two book marks, one saying 'Please read to me' and the other saying 'Let me read this to you'; this will enable you to identify which book your child should be attempting themselves and which they would like you to share together.

Children are encouraged to change their books regularly and to record their reading engagement in their Reading Records, which are checked weekly. Please encourage your child to bring their reading book and record to school every day as school adults will use every spare minute to read with and to children and so having their reading book with them is necessary.

Please see the following document for ideas as to how to help your child at home when reading. 

listening to children read 1 pdf.pdf