We read to our children daily as part of our 'ten minute reading pledge'. The books we read to them are of a high quality and lead them to a discussion about character, setting and events. All of our parents also agree to our 'ten minute reading pledge’ by signing our Home School Agreement each September. It is vital that children get to hear and talk about stories at home as well as at school.

The children have the opportunity to borrow banded books and a story or non-fiction book from our school library.

Banded books are for the children to have a go at reading with support from their grown-ups as there may be words that they are not yet able to read. The children are able to choose from their colour band.

Our children are also encouraged to borrow a picture book or a non-fiction book that interests them. These are books to be shared at home and we would not expect our children to be able to read them independently, if at all.

All of our children will have a reading record which is to be signed by an adult at home each time their child reads. There are also reading challenges that your child can complete and earn certificates for.

We use the ‘Read Write Inc' scheme in school to teach phonics. The children have a phonics session every day for 20-30 minutes in Reception and 30 minutes in Years 1 and 2. During these lessons, the children learn how to say and read sounds and they then learn how to use those sounds to read and write words. Once the children know a good amount of sounds and can read words, they will also read books matched to their phonic ability. Once they have read a book at school, they will bring a copy of that book home to practise further.

The Read Write Inc website has useful videos to help support parents. We would particularly recommend watching this video which shows how to correctly say each sound.

https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/#lg=1&slide=2

It also has information about reading with your child, how to blend sounds to read words and also the Year 1 Phonics Screening Test.

https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/

www.oxfordowl.co.uk

http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/reading-owl/fun-ideas

www.phonicsplay.co.uk

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/literacy/phonics/play/

http://mrthorne.com/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/alphablocks

http://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/ipad

http://mrthorne.com/apps/ipad-apps/

As part of our commitment to developing reading in our school, in September 2022 we introduced 'The Avenue Book Shop'.  Each term (three times a year), every child in the school will be able to visit our pop-up bookshop, which they can take home completely free! Not only does this give them the opportunity to browse and choose a book, giving them ownership and responsibility, it also means that they can begin or add to their own home library. This initiative will mean that children starting in Reception will receive nine books over their time at The Avenue Infant School.

There are some useful information videos to help support you when reading with your child, but please do come to speak to us if you would like more support with this at home.  

Why read to your child - a parents guide

10 things to think about when you read to your child

Oak Class visiting ‘The Avenue Book Shop’.

Beech class visited the Avenue bookshop and have each chosen a book to bring home and enjoy with their families and keep. 📚

The children have all visited ‘The Avenue Book Shop’. This book is for them to keep forever and add to their home library. Happy reading everyone! 😃

To celebrate World Book Day, all children visited The Avenue Book Shop.

The Avenue Book Shop is open!

Willow Class thoroughly enjoyed their World Book Day! They all loved choosing a new book from The Avenue Shop, sharing books from home with their friends and hearing a mystery story from different adults in school 📚