Our Intent

At Temple Meadow, reading sits at the heart of our curriculum, and our aim is to ensure that every child becomes a confident and successful learner. We believe that all pupils deserve a rich curriculum that encourages extensive reading of whole books and other types of texts. We believe that active encouragement of reading for life is a core part of every pupil’s educational entitlement, whatever their background or attainment because extensive reading and exposure to a broad range of texts contribute widely to each pupil’s educational achievement in addition to providing a lifetime of enjoyment.  We aim to promote the concept of reading for life and we ensure that we include a range of ‘real books’ within the Curriculum for English as well as the opportunity for sustained reading from a range of other self‐chosen fiction and non‐fiction texts from our school library.

At Temple Meadow, we believe in both the importance of developing children’s discrete word-reading skills and comprehension and the need to engender their love of books and reading. We recognise that these two elements are intertwined: each relies on the other if children are to become life-long readers.

Reading for life slots are built into each classes time table where teachers share quality books from a range of authors. This slot also allows children to:

• read out loud to the class

• hear teachers read out loud

• silent reading

• peer buddy reading

• Listen to audiobooks

• choose books to read from the school library

• write books reviews

School Library

Each week, we ensure that all KS2 classes have access to our school library and that they are able to browse and read a wide selection of books. Children also come to the library to change their reading book and choose a library to take home using our Junior Librarian system. 

Book Corner Competition

In Early Years and our Key Stage one, every term our children help their class teacher in designing their class book corner so it is engaging and exciting. Every term, our school Librarians choose their favourite book corners and the winning class get to choose a monthly magazine subscription of their choice. 

Events

Special reading events are celebrated in school and during World Book Day where children are engaged in a host of reading activities. 

Library Trip

Our Reception children have the opportunity to visit our school library where they are given a library card and get to borrow a book to take home. The librarian also carries out a session with our children, explaining what a library is and how fun it is and reads them a story and sing rhymes.

Book Fayre

We hold a book fair during the weeks of parents evenings throughout the year where books are promoted and children are encouraged to buy a book to read at home. 

Mystery Reader

In Early Years, every Friday, our children have a mystery reader (one of our parents or a member of Temple Meadow staff.) Our mystery reader then reads a story of their choice and sings rhymes with our children; it is a very enjoyable experience. 

Friday Favourites

Each week, a 'star of the week' from every class is chosen to bring in their favourite book from home to share with the class on a Friday. A bit like Show and Tell, they share the reasons as to why they like the book, describe their favourite character and give us a bit of a book review. The teacher or the child will read some of the book to the class. It is great to see children sharing a love of reading and enthusing others to go off and read the same book for themselves. A Friday Favourites poster is displayed within each classroom or on the classroom door so that the class know who’s turn it is to bring a book in.

 The impact of the reading for life and teaching at Temple Meadow will be…

• High progress measures from a child’s initial reading ability

• Y1 Phonics Screening Check pass rates

• High levels of comprehension and vocabulary development

• High levels of engagement in the books children read

• The ability to read across a range of subjects

• A fostering of reading for pleasure