At Bank View, we value reading as a key life skill and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers. We believe that a quality reading curriculum should develop the children’s enthusiasm and love of reading. We aim to instil this through the culture of our school, where reading for pleasure is highly valued, and by providing a stimulating and immersive reading environment. Reading is at the heart of our curriculum and supports all school life with skills being developed through a range of rich and varied learning opportunities.
In November 2023 we were awarded the Gold Liverpool Reading Quality Mark
The promotion of reading for pleasure is clear in
Liverpool Reading Quality Mark Accreditation report November 2023
all areas of the school. There are high quality
reading areas in every classroom. All pupils have
access to high quality texts.
Phonics
Systematic phonics is widely recognised as the most effective way to teach children to read. Here at Bank View, we are passionate about teaching phonic lessons that appeal to and engage all learners through fun activities. We use a scheme called Monster Phonics. The scheme uses a colour-coded and multi-sensory experience to help children learn. Monster Phonics resources are mapped against the DfE Letters and Sounds phases and the KS1 Spelling Curriculum.
Reading Assessment and Intervention
All learners complete the diagnostic reading assessment. Year 7s and new students complete this in our first term. All year groups are then re-assessed from previous years. This allows us to check progress and to target individuals for intervention.
Let’s Read Lessons
This is a 20-minute lesson after form time Tuesday to Friday. This is in place to develop our amber readers but also to develop reading for pleasure. Stories stimulate a learner’s imagination and expand their understanding of the world. It builds many foundational skills, introduces vocabulary and provides a model of fluent and expressive reading. The aim is that all children will transform from slowly decoding (sounding out) a word to rapidly recognising it. Once this happens children can focus on developing their fluency and comprehension as they move through school, better helping them to cope in the world. We also want children to develop a love for reading and to read independently outside of school.
English Curriculum
Our curriculum is a cumulative one, that is, we do the same things year on year whilst increasing the maturity and challenge of texts. Learners will gain knowledge about places in the world, people, social issues and history. They will develop empathy and understanding for, those whose stories they engage with, and they will explore a wide array of authors.
KS3 Reading stars
The Reading Stars lessons are aimed at pupils improving their reading, phonics and spelling at an individual level, developing reading for pleasure and independent reading. Pupils work in ability groups/pairs and at times independently. The wide range of reading resources available means that pupils can continuously work at a suitable level for their personal development. Reading Stars lessons are used to help the pupils improve their overall reading skills.
Sensory Stories
Pupils will be immersed in the story through a full sensory experience. A variety of texts and books will be selected with stories that will engage the pupils’ imagination and interest. Each story will be repeated across two sessions.
Independent Reading
Learners also get the opportunity for independent reading at our lunch time book club, ran by our intervention team, or during choice time in lessons. Pupil voice is completed at the beginning and end of the year, so students have a say on what is in the library. This helps promote independent reading.
There are cosy reading spaces across the school, allowing the children to sit or lie down to read in. This could be in the main reading area and quiet rooms in classrooms.
Reading Resources
There are many reading resources for all levels. A wide range of well-designed units of work that are adapted and suited to the various needs of our learners. They provide support and structure for any teacher in the school.
| Full monster phonics set for our phonic readers. | Full dandelion catch- up phonic sets for red and amber readers at age-appropriate levels. | Full Project X set For reading ages 4 – 11 years. | Full class sets of main texts for English lessons. |
| Full class sets for our ‘Let’s Read’ lesson. | Dyslexia Friendly Barrington Stoke Resources. | ICT resources including: Lexia, Spelling shed and online books (Oxford Owl). | A wide range of books to choose from in our mini library areas. |
ICT resources
Pupils can use laptops and iPads in lessons. Laptops are booked for every Reading Stars lesson, so that students can have access to Lexia Core 5, Power up Literacy, Oxford Owl and Spelling Shed. Each student in KS3 has a login sheet that looks like the following:
Cross Curricular Approach to Reading
Reading is encouraged across all subjects so that we can develop the habit of reading widely and often. Subject teachers should have a variety of subject related books or texts so that students can acquire a wide vocabulary in all subject areas.
Reading Events and Reading for Pleasure
At Bank View, we are dedicated to nurturing a genuine love for reading among all learners. We recognise the importance of exposing them to the expansive world of literature beyond the classroom. As part of our efforts, we organise a variety of annual events and visits that aim to cultivate their appreciation for books and storytelling. These experiences are carefully designed to inspire curiosity and foster a lasting connection with literature.
Throughout the year, we enthusiastically partake in annual reading events that celebrate the joy of reading. From occasions such as World Book Day, Poetry Day, and William Shakespeare Day, our focus remains firmly on cultivating a love for literature. In addition, we organise an annual book fair, where students can handpick their favourite book from a wide selection and receive it as a Christmas gift from their form teacher. Furthermore, we actively immerse our learners in a vibrant literary culture by going on engaging trips to bookstores, libraries, theatre performances and workshops. We actively participate in activities offered by the Liverpool Learning Partnership, including workshops, competitions, and collaborative projects that foster creativity, curiosity, and personal growth. Our goal is to establish a consistently implemented reading buddy system that goes beyond event days and becomes a part of our routine.
Golden reader
Each week, we host Golden Reader, in which, teachers nominate learners who have not only showcased their reading skills throughout the week but have also demonstrated dedication and effort. Here children will choose a book to read and enjoy a nice hot drink in our reading area. At the end of term those nominated will be in with a chance to win a kindle, presented to them with a certificate of achievement.
Book Club
The dedicated reading intervention team hosts a relaxed and enjoyable Book Club during lunchtime. A variety of books, including comics, magazines, biographies, and more, are laid out, providing students with a range of options to choose from. To enhance their reading experience, comfortable bean bags are made available for students to sit and enjoy their chosen book. This inviting setting offers students a pleasant opportunity to unwind, engage in reading, and explore different literary genres at their own pace.
Reading at Home
Children are encouraged to take home reading books from the schools reading libraries. The reading team will order in books that pupils wish to read in their spare time.
Pupil Involvement
We actively engage our pupils in decision-making processes through avenues such as the school council and pupil voice. We highly value their opinions and recognise the significant role they play in shaping our efforts to promote reading for pleasure within our school. By involving students in these discussions and decision-making platforms, we ensure that their perspectives are heard and considered, empowering them to contribute to the development of a vibrant reading culture. We believe that fostering a sense of ownership and agency among our pupils is crucial in cultivating a genuine love for reading and creating an inclusive and student-centred learning environment. This is one of our key areas we would like to develop further.
Reading Ambassadors
Our reading ambassadors meet with the reading team regularly and aim to promote reading with their peers. These pupils will have a lead role in planning and delivering the school’s reading activities.
Reading Buddies
Older and younger pupils are paired to practice reading together during Let’s Read. This changes each term.
Reading Workshops for Parents
Impact
Our goal at Bank View is that all learners will transform from decoding a word to rapidly recognising it. Once this happens children can focus on developing their fluency and comprehension as they move through school, better helping them to cope in the world. All pupils continually improve their literacy skills, enabling them to communicate effectively in
spoken and written language, to better understand what others are saying and to read and comprehend what they are reading to a higher level. Furthermore, this improved literacy ability helps the pupils to achieve in other subjects in our school. Finally, through the teaching of literature and a range of texts, pupils will develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually.
Outcomes
- Consistent application of the teaching of reading across the whole school. With all staff using the same strategies and techniques to support and develop children’s reading skills. All staff will feel confident in supporting children to make progress.
- More children will make sustained progress in reading and gain more confidence in their own skills, leading to an improved reading profile.
- Children to become increasingly independent readers, to gain confidence in reading independently and to continue to develop their language and vocabulary.
- Noticeable positive changes in children’s attitudes and behaviours towards reading.
