At Bulphan C of E Academy we believe Literacy underpins all learning in every curriculum area.  It is the basis through which children access and enjoy a wide curriculum. We strongly believe English is key to empowering independence and is a skill that is essential to everyday living.   Reading and writing is a necessary skill to access all areas of the curriculum and allows children to fulfill and achieve their full potential in all subjects at Bulphan.

At Bulphan, we follow the National Curriculum (2014), as set out by the Department of Education in order to plan our English lessons.  As our curriculum Intent states we use personalised learning ladders in each area of English to ensure coverage and progression in each English area is seen.

What reading scheme do we follow?

At Bulphan we use the Collins Big Cat Reading scheme and Pearson’s Bug Club reading scheme.  All children have access to Online Bug Club which they can read at home.

Early Books are organised so they follow our phonic scheme so all children have access to phonetically decodable books. Children will move up the levels at their own pace as advised by staff.  Beyond this children will become a free reader and may choose from either the classroom or school library.

At Bulphan we celebrate reading in many ways.  We have a weekly reading raffle and the children are rewarded for their reading through certificates and praise. We celebrate literary events such as World Book day and have Book Fairs.

Our children will learn in a literacy-rich environment, have access to high quality texts and be exposed to extensive vocabulary and experience inspiring, effective learning.  They will be fascinated and curious enough to ask questions about the world around them, developing empathy by learning about key concepts and by exploring texts from a diverse range of books. Our children learn resilience in reading by accessing challenging books, that are appropriate to their ability and texts that inspire reading for pleasure.

In Reception and Year 1, we follow the phonic scheme, Floppy Phonics to teach blending and use guided reading for the children to apply their phonic skills.

We use whole class reading from Years 2-6 as our main strategy to teach reading skills.

Using our progression, the children are exposed to a range of high-quality texts.  Each session is sequenced using an introduction and recap, vocabulary check, modelled reading, and comprehension focus where skills taught are being applied.

Guided reading is used as an intervention to support readers where needed.

Please see below our ‘Reading Entitlement Lists’ for each year group, which are used to base guided reading and whole class story sessions.

We ask that all children in KS1 spend at least 5 minutes a night reading at home and in KS2 spend at least 10 minutes. All children are expected to read 5 times a week and record this in their read-ing record books which are provided for all children in school.

Please scroll through our resources below to help build your child’s love of reading!