A love of reading is at the heart of St Mary’s and we take great pride in offering ample opportunities to help develop a love of reading. A variety of texts are on offer in English where children can read a variety of texts with the intention of developing confident and fluent readers for their future. Children are read to daily at the end of the day.

To increase their love of reading, we offer an array of initiatives across school to connect them to texts and enjoy the experience. Reading for Pleasure is celebrated through World Book Day and the use of reading suitcases which each class use at break and lunch times to read for pleasure.

 

World of Stories

Children have opportunities to choose from a range of books that tackle diversity, with authors and characters from a range of ethnic backgrounds. Each class has an opportunity to read as many books as possible from our World of Stories library each term.

Reading Treehouse

All children can choose to read a range of fiction and non-fiction books as a reading reward or during their break times. Children and staff enjoy using our reading tree house! There is nothing cosier than climbing into the treehouse and reading a book!

Reading in Classrooms

Each classroom is equipped with an appealing reading corner that the class design and create at the beginning of the school year. This space is encouraged for children to use at different times of the day, again inspiring reading for pleasure.

Reading Champions

Two children from each class have been chosen by their class to become “Reading champions.” These children have demonstrated a passion and love for reading as well as confidence in speaking about books they have read.

The Role of a Reading Champion:

  • In their own class: they will look after the class reading suitcase.
  • Reading buddies (currently in classes but eventually across the key stages) listening to their partners reading/ using echo reading.
  • They will be involved in ideas for Reading days such as World Book Day.
  • Monitor reading corners and libraries in their classrooms.

Meet our reading champions:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Meet our Staff Reading Champions:

Our Reading displays across school

Reading for Pleasure

World Book Days

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl aka Mrs Smith and Mrs Minihane

Reception

Year 1

Year 2

 

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

We celebrated World Book Day – with the message for all children ‘you are a reader‘! It will be filled with lots of exciting, celebratory ways to promote reading for pleasure on World Book Day. Children and staff dressed up as their favourite book character. Everyone looks amazing in their outfits!

Keep your eyes peeled for Mrs Minihane chasing those Dalmatians!

Reading to New Cross Care Home

As part of World Book day celebrations some of our pupils have been to visit New Cross Care Home to read stories to the residents.

Staff sharing their favourite books

Staff read their favourite books to different classes. The children loved hearing the teachers favourite stories.

How to support your child reading at home

Here are some recorded videos to support 1-1 reading with your child at home. These videos are for KS1 and will help you with supporting your child blending words and building up their reading fluency. We only ask you to read up to 10 minutes with your child three times a week.

A Parent’s Guide on how to use BoomReader