Getting Involved
Sharing reading
Until they are fluent readers, younger children will benefit from reading aloud to you as often as possible. When sharing a book with your child, try to take opportunities to talk about the book – before, during and after reading.
Before reading: look at the book cover and talk about your child’s expectations. Is the book likely to be fiction or non-fiction? Have you read other books together about these characters or by this author? What does your child think the book is going to be about?
While reading: support your child when unknown words need tackling: you can sound them out, split them into syllables, or identify suffixes and prefixes. Remind your child to listen to the words while reading them, to make sure that they make sense. Have a ‘meaning check’ every now and again to ensure your child understands the text.
After reading: talk about the book. What was it about? Did it match your child’s expectations? Ask questions beginning with the words how and why to check that your child has been able to read between the lines. Ask whether anything seemed puzzling. Then ask your child to explain what the best and worst bits of the book were, and why.
Reading and Phonics
Phonics Scheme
At Willington Primary School we use a synthetic phonics programme ‘Read Write Inc.’ Read Write Inc. is a method of learning centred around letter sounds and phonics.
Reading opens the door to learning. A child who reads a lot will become a good reader. A good reader will be able to read more challenging material. A child who reads challenging material is a child who will learn. The more a child learns, the more he or she will want to find out.
Using Read Write Inc, the children learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into comprehending what they read. It also allows them to spell effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into composing what they write.
When using Read Write Inc to read the children will:
- learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts.
- learn to read words using Fred Talk.
- read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out.
- show that they comprehend the stories by answering questions.
When using Read Write Inc to write the children will:
- learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent
- 44 sounds.
- learn to write words by saying the sounds in Fred Talk.
- write simple sentences.
- compose stories based on picture strips.
- compose a range of stories based on writing frames.
To find out more please visit or download the parent information below.
Home Reading Scheme
At Willington Primary School we use a variety of home reading materials. Initially as children begin to learn to read they will be provided with a Read Write Inc Phonics Book Bag book.
When children become fluent readers they then move to the Oxford Reading Tree Scheme, a well-established and popular reading scheme which is highly successful at teaching children to read. Reading is one of the most important skills your child will learn in the early years at Willington Primary School. Oxford Reading Tree makes learning to read fun, with stories that children want to read for themselves.
To support your child’s learning with Oxford Reading Tree download the guide below or visit their website: Oxford Reading Tree
Willington Primary School also uses Accelerated Reader (AR). AR is a computer programme that helps teachers manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice. For further information download the guides below.
A Parents Guide to AR
ORT Guide For Parents
