Reading consists of 2 main aspects: word reading and comprehension. Word reading involves both the speedy working out of the pronunciation of unfamiliar printed words (decoding) and the recognition of familiar printed words. Underlying both is the understanding that the letters on the page represent the sounds in spoken words.

Good comprehension draws from knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and our knowledge of the world. The children develop their comprehension skills through discussions with teachers and peers, as well as reading and discussing a range of quality texts. Pupils are encouraged to read widely across both fiction and non-fiction to develop their knowledge of themselves and the world they live in, to establish an appreciation and love of reading and to gain knowledge across the curriculum.

Our aim is to ensure that, by the end primary education, all our children are able to read fluently and with confidence.

We follow a variety of different reading schemes such as: Bug Club Phonics, Oxford Reading Tree, Project X, Pearson and Ginn, Badger Learning and Pandora Books. 

At Dallas Road we try to develop the children’s love of books through widespread reading for enjoyment as well as for retrieving information and building up knowledge. This enables children to: 
 

• develop their vocabulary;
• improve their ability to write in different styles and text types;
• develop their thoughts and ideas so that they can communicate well with different groups of people.

At Dallas Road, we teach whole class guided reading from Year 1 to Year 6. These sessions focus on a range of different reading skills (VIPERS) enabling the children to explore high quality texts in detail and develop their vocabulary and comprehension. In addition to our whole class guided reading lessons, we also enjoy reading 1:1 with every child throughout the week- working on a band that suitably challenges them. Our children in the Foundation Stage take part in small group guided reading sessions as well as 1:1 reading. 

All children are encouraged to read widely (both fiction and non-fiction) to establish an appreciation and love of reading, and to gain knowledge and understanding across the curriculum through the following steps:
 

• Quality texts / picture books are central to the English curriculum.
• Children’s reading is monitored to ensure all are reading a range of quality texts, at a suitable level.
• Parents are encouraged to support their child’s reading at home.
• Home reading is recorded in a record book..
• Children are encouraged to change their reading books regularly.
• All classes have an ongoing class novel that is read with the children on a daily basis – teachers model a love of reading and expose children to more adventurous and challenging texts.
• Children have the opportunity to share recommended books in assemblies and through in-school displays.
• There are regular reading celebrations such as World Book Day, Young Quills Reading Challenge and authors and poets visit the school.