Reading and Literacy

Reading

We work with our students to foster a love of reading. Strong literacy skills are a crucial factor in students reaching their academic potential at Hedingham School. Reading, writing and communication skills are tackled by all Learning Areas using both subject specific as well as generic approaches.

Opportunities to regularly read plays an important part of life at Hedingham School. We have a weekly “Drop Everything and Read” slot during tutorial during which students have access to their own choice of reading material.

We carefully track literacy specific data on students, through regular reading tests and literacy biased assessments, which we use to structure focused intervention and support where needed.

Literacy/Reading Support

Additional provision, for students who require support for their reading, is delivered in different formats:

Paired Reading – 1:1 with a Sixth Form student
Catch Up Reading – 1:1 with Teaching Assistant
Toe to Toe
Reading and Spelling Intervention – support offered through extraction
Units of Sound – Computer programme that supports development of reading and spelling
Termly Reading Support – 10 week blocks of reading and literacy support

Whole School Reading Priorities

Development Point	Actions
Regular reading opportunities within the English Learning Area	Regular opportunities to read a feature of the KS3 English curriculum KS3 English curriculum time allocated to the Learning Centre so that students can update and explore reading material KS3 English curriculum time allocated to the Learning Centre so that students can update and explore reading material
Regular opportunities to read for pleasure	Personal Reading time is a consistent feature of tutorial programme (Monday) Book boxes provided for every tutor base with a variety of reading material to encourage those who haven’t a book Tutorial rotations to the Learning Centre to give access to fresh reading material
Monitoring the improvement in reading levels	All students in KS3 to complete the Access Reading Test each academic year. Data collated and published to staff on SIMs marksheets (reading age vs chronological age) Reading age data included in central reports that go to parents.
Monitoring book withdrawals	Reports published half termly (withdrawals by tutor group) and shared with Year Leaders Feature of tutorial meetings led by Year Leaders
Support for students with weak reading ability	Flexibility within the curriculum to access support Paired reading Catch-up Reading Toe to Toe
Increase the profile of reading to capture reluctant readers	Author visit for reluctant readers Positive role modelling from staff (door signage) World Book Day (with door decorating challenge) Increase staff reading with improved library stock Reading speed challenge (learning centre) Reading assemblies
Celebrate reading success	Digital signage, school website and school Facebook used to celebrate: Top 10 readers on digital signage Top 10 books Have you read… Newly available…

Geography Literacy List Geography Reading Displays