Reading Curriculum at Howbury School

At Howbury School, reading is at the heart of everything we do. Our Reading Curriculum is designed to build foundational skills, foster critical thinking, and instill a lifelong love for reading. From phonics in the early years to critical analysis in secondary school, we ensure every child develops the confidence and ability to explore the world through texts.

Our Approach to Reading

We build our Reading Curriculum on these key principles:

Strong Foundations: Developing phonics, fluency, and vocabulary from the earliest stages.
Critical Comprehension: Teaching students to analyze and engage deeply with a variety of texts.
Integrated Learning: Incorporating reading into all subject areas to enhance understanding and context.
Joyful Engagement: Fostering a love for reading through creative and collaborative activities.

Key Features of the Reading Curriculum

Early Years (Nursery and Reception)

Our youngest learners begin their reading journey with:

Systematic phonics instruction for sound and letter recognition.
Play-based activities to build early literacy skills.
Interactive storytelling to develop listening and comprehension.

Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2)

In these foundational years, students transition from learning to read to reading for meaning:

Blending and segmenting sounds to decode words.
Guided reading sessions to develop fluency and comprehension.
Introduction to simple narratives and non-fiction texts.

Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6)

At this stage, students build deeper connections with texts:

Exposure to diverse genres, including fiction, poetry, and informational texts.
Development of critical skills such as summarization, inference, and analysis.
Participation in discussions, reading challenges, and book clubs.

Secondary School

In secondary school, students refine their skills and tackle complex texts:

Advanced comprehension strategies, including thematic analysis and critical evaluation.
Engagement with literature from global perspectives.
Preparation for Cambridge Checkpoint and IGCSE English examinations.

Reading in Lessons

Reading is woven into all areas of the curriculum to support holistic learning:

Cross-Curricular Integration: Students read and analyse subject-specific materials in science, history, and more.
Critical Reading Skills: Lessons include comprehension exercises to ensure understanding and engagement with core topics.
Applied Learning: Reading tasks encourage connections between texts and real-world issues.

Supporting a Culture of Reading

Our Reading Curriculum is enriched by programs and tools that inspire students to engage meaningfully with texts:

Performance Indices

Students’ interaction with library resources contributes to their Performance Indices, which encourage regular reading and promote a school-wide culture of literacy.

Reading Clinic

For students who need additional support, our Reading Clinic offers personalized strategies and tools to build fluency, confidence, and comprehension skills.

Library Engagement

The Howbury School Library is central to our Reading Curriculum, offering:

Extensive book collections tailored to all reading levels.
Digital resources, including eBooks and research tools.
Interactive events like author visits, reading competitions, and illustration workshops.

Technology in Reading

We leverage technology to enhance reading experiences:

Interactive Phonics Apps: Engaging young learners in foundational literacy.
Digital Libraries: Expanding access to texts anytime, anywhere.
Virtual Storytelling and Field Trips: Bringing stories and ideas to life through immersive experiences.

Assessment and Monitoring

We ensure progress through regular evaluations, including:

Phonics checks and fluency assessments in early years and Key Stage 1.
Comprehension exercises and book reviews in Key Stage 2.
Cambridge Checkpoint and IGCSE assessments in secondary school.

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