Reading Curriculum

Intent

At Benhurst Primary School, our Reading curriculum is carefully designed with a focus on fostering the core values of Courageous Optimism, Boundless Creativity, and Heartfelt Compassion. Through this approach, we aim to create readers who not only excel in their reading abilities but also develop a genuine love for reading that enriches their lives both academically and personally.

Our Reading curriculum ensures that learners:

• Develop a life-long enjoyment in reading for pleasure: We believe in the power of reading to open doors to imagination and knowledge. With Courageous Optimism, we encourage students to embrace reading as a joyful, lifelong pursuit, where they are inspired to explore new ideas and perspectives.
• Are exposed to high-quality texts from a range of authors, genres, and topics: By offering a rich variety of texts, we promote Boundless Creativity, exposing our pupils to different voices, styles, and narratives that spark their imagination and broaden their understanding of the world.
• Develop the necessary skills to become fluent, competent, and expressive readers: We empower students with the tools to read with fluency and confidence, allowing them to approach texts with self-assurance. Through this, they can independently access a wide range of literature, reflecting the value of Courageous Optimism.
• Enhance their comprehension skills to understand what is read to them: At Benhurst, we believe reading comprehension is foundational to understanding the world around us. Our students develop the ability to think critically and reflect on what they read, embodying Heartfelt Compassion as they engage with different characters, cultures, and perspectives.
• Read for meaning, enabling them to respond to texts and justify their answers: Our curriculum encourages students to engage deeply with texts, fostering their ability to interpret and justify their thoughts through meaningful connections, predictions, and inferences.
• Develop their ability to retell stories or events in sequence, predict outcomes, and infer feelings or motives: We guide students to think ahead and infer emotions or reasons behind events, cultivating empathy and compassion for the characters and the stories they encounter.
• Appreciate the work of diverse authors, poets, and illustrators from different cultures: Through this exposure, we instill an appreciation for diverse artistic contributions and help our pupils to value the richness of cultural expression, fostering Heartfelt Compassion and respect for others’ stories and traditions.
• Are introduced to a wide variety of language, including story language, to enhance their oral and written abilities: We value the power of language to shape thoughts and ideas, encouraging students to experiment with vocabulary and expression, helping them grow as communicators and creative thinkers, exemplifying our commitment to Boundless Creativity.

At Benhurst, we strive to develop confident, thoughtful, and creative readers who are ready to explore the world through the pages of a book, living out our school values in every chapter.

Implementation

The implementation of our Reading Curriculum at Benhurst Primary School is designed to ensure that every student develops a lifelong love of reading, in line with our curriculum intent and core values of Courageous Optimism, Boundless Creativity, and Heartfelt Compassion. By weaving these values into each aspect of our reading approach, we aim to cultivate not just competent readers, but passionate, empathetic, and critical thinkers.

Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Reading Implementation

Key Stage 1 (KS1):

• DEAR – Drop Everything and Read: A daily school-wide initiative where all students stop their current activity and read a book of their choice, fostering a love for independent reading while promoting our value of Boundless Creativity through diverse reading experiences.
• Guided Reading Sessions: Small group sessions tailored to individual reading levels, focusing on key skills such as comprehension and fluency. These sessions develop Courageous Optimism as children build confidence in their reading abilities.
• Demo Reading Sessions: Teachers model reading aloud, using think-aloud strategies to showcase reading techniques and comprehension skills.
• Shared Reading Sessions: Children read aloud together or with an adult, practicing fluency and expression. This collaborative learning environment fosters Heartfelt Compassion, encouraging peer support and shared learning.
• Parent Volunteer Readers: Engaging parents as reading volunteers promotes a community of readers and encourages positive reading habits at home.

Key Stage 2 (KS2):

• DEAR – Drop Everything and Read: Continues from KS1, further instilling the habit of regular independent reading.
• Shared Reading Sessions: Increased focus on reading aloud and comprehension strategies, encouraging active engagement with texts.
• Demo Reading Sessions: Teachers demonstrate advanced comprehension skills, focusing on text analysis and deeper meaning.
• Independent Reading Sessions: Children are encouraged to read independently, making informed choices from a wide range of books, supporting Boundless Creativity and fostering ownership of their learning.
• Parent Volunteer Readers: Parent engagement continues, supporting reluctant readers and encouraging reading as a community activity.

Guided Reading Carousel (KS1)

This involves rotating small groups through various reading-related activities. Each station targets different aspects of reading, such as comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary development. This dynamic structure ensures that each child receives focused support while challenging them to achieve their potential.

Demo Reading Task (KS1 and KS2)

• Duration: Lasting no more than 5 minutes, these verbal demonstrations are quick but impactful.
• Content: Teachers select short texts, often linked to class topics in history, science, or geography, and demonstrate the reading process, focusing on skills from the VIPERS framework (Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval, Summarisation).
• Outcome: This helps students see the thought process behind reading, promoting the value of Courageous Optimism by building their reading confidence through teacher modelling.

Shared Reading (KS1 and KS2)

• In Year 1, shared reading begins once a week and increases to twice a week in Year 2, providing structured opportunities for reading aloud and listening to skilled adult readers.
• Students are exposed to the six key reading skills (Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval, and Summarisation) and begin demonstrating mastery in these areas. This structured exposure fosters Heartfelt Compassion, allowing children to engage deeply with characters and narratives while developing empathy and understanding of diverse perspectives.
• Texts are carefully chosen to link with other subjects, enriching their contextual understanding of the world around them.

Weekly Comprehension (KS1 and KS2)

• Weekly comprehension tasks allow children to apply the reading skills they have learned. Questions are discussed and marked as a class, encouraging collaboration and critical thinking.
• This structured approach ensures pupils know more, remember more, and are prepared for future learning.

VIPERS

In Key Stage One children reading skills are taught and practised using the VIPERS during whole class reading sessions.

Key Stage 2

In Key Stage Two children reading skills are taught and practised using VIPERS during whole class reading sessions.

Whole School Reading Road Map

• The Reading Road Map is an exciting initiative designed to ignite a passion for reading by offering up-to-date books, authors, and genres. It is a tool to promote reading for pleasure and challenge readers of all abilities, in line with our commitment to fostering Boundless Creativity and encouraging Courageous Optimism.
• Genres include adventure, classics, crime, fantasy, graphic novels, horror, humour, poetry, sci-fi, and sport, exposing children to diverse genres and promoting creative thinking.
• This program empowers children to take ownership of their reading journey, reinforcing our value of Heartfelt Compassion as they learn to appreciate diverse stories and perspectives.
• Year 2, Year 4, and Year 6 complete the roadmap by Spring 1, while Year 1, Year 3, and Year 5 continue until Summer 2. Children have the autonomy to follow their chosen path on the map, enhancing their enjoyment and engagement with reading.

Reading Road Map Aim

• To promote a love of reading and a reading culture across the school: Encouraging children to embrace books and stories as part of their daily lives.
• To engage reluctant readers and challenge our more able readers: Tailored programs ensure every child is motivated and supported at their reading level.
• To cultivate the values of curiosity, resilience, and empathy: Through our reading curriculum, students grow not only as readers but as compassionate and creative individuals who are ready to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.

At Benhurst, our reading curriculum implementation is designed to meet the needs of all learners, empowering them to become confident, lifelong readers who live out our core values in every aspect of their learning journey.

Impact

At Benhurst Primary School, our motto, “Only my best is good enough for me,” drives the impact of our Reading curriculum. We are committed to ensuring that all pupils, regardless of their starting points, make significant progress and reach their full potential as confident, capable readers.

Our goal is for every child to see themselves as a successful and enthusiastic reader, developing a lifelong love for reading. By the time they leave Benhurst, pupils will have gained not only the technical skills required for reading fluently and with understanding, but also the ability to think critically, engage with diverse texts, and approach literature with curiosity and confidence.

We measure success through:

• Strong Progress: Children demonstrate consistent growth in reading skills, moving towards or exceeding age-related expectations.
• Reading Enjoyment: Pupils develop a love for reading, choosing to read for pleasure both in and outside of school.
• Preparedness for the Future: Our reading curriculum equips children with the skills, strategies, and knowledge they need to confidently tackle the next stage of their education.

Ultimately, we want every child at Benhurst to feel empowered through reading, knowing that they have the tools to succeed in all areas of their learning journey.

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