Reading for Pleasure
Reading for pleasure is at the heart of our reading curriculum. We believe that reading is the entitlement of every child. Our aim is for every child to choose to read, enjoy reading and read regularly now and for the rest of their lives. If they do this, they will benefit academically, socially, emotionally and in terms of their health.
Staff at St. Paul’s work hard to develop their knowledge of children’s books and take time to get to know the children as readers so that they can support and share their reading experiences.
All classrooms have a reading area. The children chose the books that they would like to have in this area. They are organised into sections. The children share their thoughts and feelings about books that they have read with others through time given each week for independent reading and though an interactive display that allows them to recommend books to each other.
Reading aloud is a crucial part of reading for pleasure at St. Paul’s. Every class has a reading aloud session every day. The children enjoy listening to a story for enjoyment without stopping to study the book as they would in a lesson.
Our school library is open every lunchtime for the children to read or share books together. Each child has a library account so that they can return and take out new books. It is also open in the mornings before school so that children can share and choose books with their families.
During the school year, the children share their love of reading with our school community through events such as World Book Day and our wider community through events such as our local Book Festival.
We encourage all our parents to share books with their children. Reading a story is fun - it's a time for closeness, laughing and talking together: set aside some time, ask your child to choose a book, sit close together, point to the pictures, encourage your child to talk about the book and lastly, above all - make it fun! Every child is provided with a flyer for each year group. These recommend fifty books that are suitable for children of that age. They support families in selecting the books that they read and share together.
Nursery
Reception
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6