Reading to, or sharing books with, your children is one of the most important things you can do at home to support their education.
Early Years and Year 1
RWI Reading at Home Booklet for Parents EYFS Y1Books across the school are colour-coded according to reading difficulty. At KS1, children are assigned books which link to the stage of phonics they are at.
Years 2-6
From Year 2 children take a Star Reading Assessment. Teachers use the results of the Star Reading assessment to assist them in assigning children to different reading levels. This enables children to independently choose a book which will be at a level that is right for them.
Each child has a Reading Diary in which they record their daily reading. Reading diaries must go to and from school every day. Our teachers keep records so that they can efficiently target children who are not reading at home.
We ask that parents and carers:
- Model a love of reading by talking about your own reading with children and by asking about theirs.
- Help children to engage with reading every day by listening to them read; reading to them; sharing a book together; listening to an audiobook together, reading a newspaper, comic, magazine or recipe; or any suitable reading material. This could be in English or in a home language.
- Take a trip to the local library together.
- Fill out (or help their child fill out) your child’s Reading Record each day.
Video guide from the National Literacy Trust – Sharing Books
Choosing books
Some children will instinctively choose books that appeal to them but, if you would like to be able to provide guidance then this search tool can help. Simply add the title of the book you are considering to receive information on age-appropriateness as well as the ‘book level’. Your child’s teacher will be able to provide you with the book level your child’s assessment shows they are currently at.