Reading Curriculum
At Westbury C of E Junior School, we believe that reading is the gateway to learning. Our reading curriculum is designed to develop confident, fluent and enthusiastic readers who can understand, discuss and enjoy a wide range of texts.
We place great importance on providing every child with the opportunity to read regularly, experience challenging and inspiring literature, and develop the skills and confidence to become lifelong readers.
Our Reading Curriculum
Our reading curriculum is carefully structured across five lessons each week, combining the development of reading fluency and comprehension with opportunities to immerse children in high-quality literature.
Reading Fluency: Three Days a Week
For three days each week, our reading lessons are informed by the HFL Reading Fluency Project. This evidence-informed approach supports children in developing the fluency, expression and comprehension skills they need to become successful readers.
Our teaching incorporates a range of carefully selected strategies, including:
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Modelled expert prosody: Teachers demonstrate fluent, expressive reading, modelling pace, phrasing and intonation.
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Repeated reading: Children revisit texts to build accuracy, confidence and fluency.
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Echo reading: Children follow the teacher's model before reading independently.
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Text marking: Children identify and annotate features of the text to support meaning and expression.
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Performance reading: Children develop confidence and expression through reading aloud.
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Modelled comprehension: Teachers explicitly demonstrate how to understand, interpret and respond to what we read.
Teachers select texts that complement and enrich the class reading spine book. For example, while reading Harry Potter, children may explore a related text about magic, wizards or the wider themes within the story. This approach allows children to develop their reading skills while deepening their understanding of the literature they are enjoying.
Just Read: Two Days a Week
For two days each week, we follow the Just Read programme, using our carefully chosen reading spine books to nurture a love of reading and develop children's comprehension through rich, engaging literature.
Teachers read aloud to the class, sharing texts that are appropriately challenging and may be beyond what some children could independently access. Through expert teacher modelling, discussion and carefully structured support, every child is able to engage with ambitious vocabulary, complex ideas and captivating stories.
Our lessons provide extensive opportunities for:
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Book talk and discussion, encouraging children to share ideas and respond thoughtfully.
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Exploring vocabulary, characters, themes and authorial choices.
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Developing comprehension through questioning, inference and prediction.
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Summarising chapters and consolidating understanding at the end of each lesson.
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Becoming fully immersed in high-quality literature and developing a genuine love of reading.
By combining teacher-led reading with rich discussion, we ensure that all children can experience the joy and challenge of great books, regardless of their independent reading ability.
Reading at Home
Reading at home is an essential part of our children's reading journey. We encourage every child to read at least four times each week, with staff regularly monitoring home reading to ensure that all children have the opportunity to practise and develop their skills.
To further support our pupils, we offer a weekly homework club, providing an additional opportunity to read and helping children to build consistent reading habits.
We use Accelerated Reader to support children in selecting books that are appropriately matched to their reading ability. Through Star Reader assessments, we establish each child's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), helping them to choose books that provide the right balance of challenge, enjoyment and accessibility.
Our aim is for every child to read widely, regularly and with increasing independence, developing both their reading ability and their enthusiasm for books.
Assessing and Supporting Reading Progress
We assess children's reading comprehension each long term using NFER assessments. These provide valuable information about each child's understanding of texts, helping teachers to identify strengths, monitor progress and plan appropriate next steps.
Where children are not yet meeting the expectations of their year group, we provide targeted support through our Reading Comprehension Intervention Programme. This intervention is designed to develop fluency and comprehension through carefully selected, manageable sections of text.
Children receive explicit support with reading strategies, understanding vocabulary, locating information, making inferences and answering comprehension questions. By breaking down the reading process and providing carefully structured guidance, we help children to develop the confidence and skills they need to make progress.
Our Commitment
At Westbury C of E Junior School, we are committed to ensuring that every child becomes a successful and enthusiastic reader. Through high-quality teaching, carefully chosen literature, regular reading at home and targeted support where needed, we strive to ensure that all children can access the wider curriculum, discover new worlds through books and let their light shine.