Reading

 

Reading at Fairburn View Primary School

Our Vision for Reading

At Fairburn View Primary School, we believe that reading is the key that unlocks learning, opportunity, and imagination. We are committed to developing confident, fluent, and enthusiastic readers who leave our school with a lifelong love of books and the skills needed to succeed in education and beyond.

We strive to create a culture where reading is valued, celebrated, and enjoyed by all. Through high-quality teaching, carefully chosen texts, and meaningful reading experiences, we ensure that every child develops the knowledge, vocabulary, comprehension, and cultural understanding needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Our vision is that every child becomes a reader who can:

• Read fluently and with confidence.
• Understand, analyse, and discuss a wide range of texts.
• Develop empathy, curiosity, and critical thinking through literature.
• Read for pleasure and personal enjoyment.
• Access the wider curriculum successfully through strong reading skills.
• Leave primary school equipped with a rich literary heritage and a passion for lifelong learning.

Our Reading Curriculum

Reading sits at the heart of everything we do at Fairburn View. We provide a structured and progressive reading journey from the Early Years through to Year 6, ensuring that every child develops the skills and confidence needed to become an independent reader.

Early Reading and Phonics

Our early reading provision is built upon the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme. Children begin their reading journey through high-quality stories, picture books, and language-rich experiences that develop communication, storytelling, and a love of books.

As children progress through Reception and Key Stage 1, they are taught phonics systematically and take home fully decodable books carefully matched to the sounds and words they are learning in school. This enables children to practise and consolidate their reading skills successfully.

Developing Fluent Readers

As pupils move through school, they access a carefully sequenced reading curriculum designed to develop fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking. Children progress through our colour-banded reading system before becoming independent “free readers” with access to a wide range of challenging fiction and non-fiction texts.

Teachers deliver high-quality reading lessons that focus on:

• Vocabulary development
• Retrieval skills
• Inference and deduction
• Authorial intent
• Summarising and explaining
• Critical thinking and discussion

Voyage into Reading

Our unique Voyage into Reading approach supports pupils in becoming thoughtful, analytical, and confident readers.

The journey is structured through four stages:

The Anchor – Building secure foundations in decoding, fluency, and basic comprehension.

The Compass – Developing retrieval skills, vocabulary understanding, and navigation of texts.

The Telescope – Exploring deeper meaning through inference, themes, and authorial intent.

The Captain’s Challenge – Applying critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning to evaluate and respond to texts.

Through daily fluency practice, discussion, and structured comprehension activities, children develop the skills needed to become successful readers across the curriculum.

Reading for Pleasure

At Fairburn View, we believe that reading should be enjoyable and inspiring.

Every classroom contains an inviting reading area where children can discover books independently and develop positive reading habits. Pupils also have access to classroom libraries, the school library, and a wide range of carefully selected fiction and non-fiction texts.

We actively encourage children to read at home and work closely with families to foster a shared love of reading. Reading achievements are celebrated through rewards and recognition, helping to motivate children and build positive reading routines.

Fairburn Favourites – Our Reading Spine

Our Reading Spine, known as Fairburn Favourites, is a carefully curated collection of high-quality books that every child experiences during their time at our school.

The collection includes:

• Classic and contemporary literature
• Diverse authors and perspectives
• Texts that reflect different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences
• Stories that promote empathy, resilience, inclusion, and aspiration

Through these carefully chosen texts, children develop a rich vocabulary, broaden their understanding of the world, and build a strong literary foundation.

We want every child to see themselves reflected in the books they read while also gaining insight into the lives and experiences of others.

Please click here to view our reading spine: https://canva.link/tdkahbqujha5u6p

Supporting Every Reader

We are committed to ensuring that all pupils achieve success in reading.

Children who require additional support benefit from targeted interventions, including Little Wandle Fluency and Rapid Catch-Up programmes. These focused sessions help pupils close gaps, build confidence, and make accelerated progress.

Regular assessment ensures that every child receives the right level of challenge and support, enabling them to become successful and independent readers.

By the time our pupils leave Fairburn View Primary School, we aim for them to be confident, capable readers who enjoy reading for pleasure and are fully prepared for the next stage of their education.