Intent

At Bawnmore, we believe that reading is the key to unlocking learning across the whole curriculum and developing a lifelong love of books and stories. Our reading curriculum is designed to ensure that every child becomes a fluent, confident reader who can access texts with enjoyment, understanding and independence. High-quality texts are carefully chosen to inspire, challenge and reflect the diversity of the world around them, while fostering a strong foundation in early reading skills.

We aim for children to leave Bawnmore as enthusiastic readers who read for both pleasure and purpose, and who apply their reading skills confidently across the whole curriculum.

Implementation

• High-quality texts drive learning across English and the wider curriculum. A carefully curated selection of fiction, non-fiction and poetry underpins teaching from Reception through to Year 2.
• Our thematic curriculum is built around core texts that engage and excite children, fostering a deep connection with reading.
• Book Talk sessions (Jane Considine’s Hooked on Books approach) support vocabulary development, comprehension, prediction and reasoning.
• Daily story time helps develop children’s listening, vocabulary, and love of stories.
• Each classroom has an inviting book corner that promotes independent reading and choice.
• Guided reading and shared reading sessions allow teachers to model fluency, expression and comprehension strategies.
• Children are provided with 90% decodable reading books, carefully matched to their phonics stage, to develop fluency and confidence at home and in school.
• A rich diet of poetry, rhymes and song supports early language development, rhythm, and enjoyment of language.
• Reading is embedded across all curriculum areas, ensuring children apply their developing skills in a range of meaningful contexts.
• The school library, parent reading events, author visits and special reading days further promote reading as a valued and celebrated part of school life.

Impact

By the end of Year 2, our children:

• Are fluent, accurate and confident readers.
• Apply a range of reading strategies to understand and enjoy texts.
• Develop strong comprehension skills, enabling them to discuss and reflect on what they have read.
• Enjoy reading for pleasure, choosing books independently and confidently.
• Apply their reading skills to support learning across the wider curriculum.

SEND and Inclusion

• Children with additional needs are identified early and supported through high-quality interventions and adapted teaching.
• Pre-teaching of key vocabulary and texts supports access to whole-class reading sessions.
• Targeted reading interventions, including 1:1 and small group work, focus on inference, comprehension and decoding as appropriate.
• Phonics interventions are delivered to address gaps quickly and ensure all children keep up, not catch up.
• Tasks are scaffolded with appropriate support such as word banks, writing frames, and adult support to promote success.