SMITHILLS SCHOOL
SUCCESS FOR ALL
AT SCHOOL
In school, we offer a range of support for our pupils to practise reading effectively.
For most of our pupils, our wide-ranging, knowledge rich curriculum and extra-curricular offer, including Session 0 Reading and the 16-Under-16 challenge will provide a challenging, stimulating reading framework. We recognise, however, that some pupils will need further support, and have a network of programmes designed to support these children into becoming outstanding readers.
For those mainstream pupils with a below expected Reading Age, we offer our small group Reading Mastery curriculum, delivered by our specialised Teacher of Reading, Mr. Stevenson. These sessions involve reading carefully selected fiction and non-fiction texts through choral reading, call and response, and teacher and peer led instruction to build fluency, followed by discussion sessions, writing activities and close reading to check and examine fluency.
For our SEND cohort who are reading below their expected age, our SEND Literacy Groups, offer intervention sessions where we meet each pupil’s bespoke needs, whether that be phonemic development, fluency or comprehension.
As part of our orientation procedure, pupil commencing Year 7 undertake New Group Reading Tests (NGRTs), and these assessments are conducted annually throughout a pupil’s Smithills’ journey. Depending on the results of the reading test, we implement the above interventions.
When we identify specific needs, our goal is to collaborate with parents and ensure their child receives appropriate assistance. We strongly recommend that all students explore a wide range of literary styles and genres, and we encourage parents to actively support this by regularly listening to their child read and engaging in conversations about their educational journey.
How can you help?
Parents can help nurture their child’s reading by ensuring they are encouraging their child reads regularly at home. This might look like reading a book together before bed, enquiring about your child’s latest library loan, or ensuring that your child is exposed to a wide range of different vocabulary. The Department for Education’s Reading Framework talks about opportunities to ‘repeat and consolidate vocabulary’ - you can encourage your child’s vocabulary growth in this way by talking regularly about their day, reviewing new language discussed at school, putting on a talk radio show, or even putting the subtitles on the television so children are reading along with their favourite programmes.