We love reading at Stafford Leys! It is an important part of everyday life in school and we enjoy celebrating our reading successes.
Reading books are just one part of reading at Stafford Leys. We have class reading corners, a school library and reading houses outdoors so the children can enjoy reading everywhere in school. We have reading buddies and child librarians who help other children with their reading.
At school, children read a wide range of texts, developing reading skills across the curriculum.
Welcome to Teacher’s story time! We have a wonderful collection of books read by teachers……so sit back, relax and enjoy! Click on the picture below to choose a story to listen to.
At Stafford Leys we love reading with the children. All children have reading books that they can take home with them every night to read with their family. For more information about the book bands, key questions and reading progression just click the button below.
Reading book information and suggestions for supporting your child with reading at each stage
Our reading book organisation is indicated on books by the sticker colour on the side. The colour of the spine varies between publishers. Most of our reading scheme books come from Oxford Reading Tree. The phonic book groups system is used nation wide and any scheme can fit into it. The picture below shows how the book bands match the Oxford Reading Tree (ORT Stage).
Reading book and phonics book groups are intended to support each child as a reader, and enable teachers to carefully check what each child can do and what their next steps are. They should not be used to make comparisons between children; nor is it a race to ‘get to the end’.
Because we want our children to love reading, we reward them for the amount of reading they do, rather than the category or group from which they are choosing. Children should read at home as frequently as possible, and the adult to whom they read should sign the reading record each time.
We all know how vitally important it is for children to read and be read to at home. Equally, we know how difficult it can be to know how to help. Below, you will find ideas for supporting your child’s reading, whatever reading book group they are choosing from. Many thanks for all of your support.
Things to Remember
- Try to hear your child read every day or read to them.
- Little and often is more beneficial than a long session once a week.
- Think about how long you are reading for – the amount of reading time shouldn’t exceed your child’s span of attention.
- Pick your timing carefully – it’s best not to embark on a reading session when your child is tired.
- Every child is an individual – try not to compare your child’s progress with other children or with brothers and sisters.
“Parents can instil a love of reading long before a child goes to school and deepen that love of reading as the child grows up.” Enjoy reading with your child and help them become lifelong readers.
Remember: If you have any questions, concerns or celebrations at any stage of your child’s reading development, please speak to their class teacher. There’s lots more information in your child’s reading diary.
To teach reading at school we use VIPERS to talk about the books we are reading. Take a look at the files below to learn more.
Books and reading everywhere!
We have class reading corners, a school library, whole class reading books and reading houses outdoors so the children can enjoy reading everywhere in school. The PFA help us by buying books for our classrooms and library.
We love reading together and linking our class books to learning in other areas of the curriculum.
Special visitors and events
We really enjoy celebrating reading at Stafford Leys. We regularly welcome authors to the school and enjoy other celebrations such as World Book Day and our vocabulary day.
We read a book as part of all of our phonics lessons. We love making phonics fun for the children through looking at books, dressing up and special actions. Even Mr Kitchen joins in with the fun!
