Reading & Phonics
At Adelaide Primary School, reading is a priority. We believe that reading is the key to unlocking the full potential of every child. Through a systematic, engaging, and inclusive approach to phonics and reading, we ensure that every child develops the confidence, fluency, and comprehension skills needed to access a broad curriculum and succeed in life.
In line with our commitment to excellence, we provide a rich variety of high-quality texts, tailored interventions, and supportive environments where every child – regardless of background – can thrive as a reader. We work collaboratively with families to foster a culture of reading for pleasure and purpose, laying the groundwork for academic achievement and personal growth in the years to come.
To achieve this, we follow a systematic, high-quality phonics programme (Read Write Inc. Phonics) that ensures all children develop the confidence, fluency, and comprehension skills necessary to succeed. Through precise and consistent teaching by skilled practitioners, we provide the best possible start for every child, enabling them to progress swiftly from decoding words to understanding and enjoying texts of increasing complexity. To do this, we follow the Read Write Inc. programme; this sets out a sequence of lessons that teaches children to read accurately and fluently with good comprehension. They also learn to form each letter, spell correctly and compose their ideas in sentences.
Our children:
- Learn to read and write the 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple prompts.
- Learn to read words using sound blending (Fred talk) e.g. c-a-t = cat, sh-o-p = shop.
- Learn to write words by saying the sounds and graphemes (Fred fingers).
- Read and write ‘red words’ these are words that have less common spelling patterns.
- Read lively stories featuring words they have learnt to sound out.
- Show that they comprehend the stories by answering ‘Find It’ and ‘Prove It’.
- Answer questions.
- Practise every activity orally.
- Take turns talking and listening to each other.
Our commitment extends beyond phonics to ensure all pupils become confident, fluent readers who can access and engage with a broad curriculum. We prioritize opportunities for pupils to read widely and often, embedding key comprehension strategies to deepen understanding and foster a critical appreciation of texts. This includes the careful selection of high-quality, diverse literature that supports cultural understanding, builds vocabulary and nurtures a love for reading.
We are dedicated to getting all pupils reading, with targeted interventions to support those who need additional help, ensuring no child is left behind. By equipping every child with strong reading skills, we empower them to achieve academically, participate fully in school life and prepare for success in the wider world.
Home Reading
Working in partnership with families, we foster a shared passion for reading that supports both academic achievement and personal growth, laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning and opportunity.
Every child at Adelaide Primary School is expected to read four times a week. In EYFS and KS1, each child will be given the storybook that they have read in RWI lessons so that they can practise re-reading it at home. This is done to help them build their confidence and fluency.
In KS2, children take home a book that is appropriate to their year group expectations. The children have the opportunity to choose from a range of home reading books from the home reading area.
