Reading at Mill Lane
Our Approach to Reading
At Mill Lane, we believe that reading is the foundation for learning and a gateway to a lifetime of opportunities. As a one-form entry primary school with a nursery attached, we provide a structured and engaging reading curriculum that fosters both fluency and a love of books.
Phonics and Early Reading
We follow the Little Wandle phonics scheme, which is implemented from Nursery through to Year 6. This ensures a consistent, systematic approach to phonics and early reading skills.
In Nursery, children begin developing phonemic awareness through listening games, rhymes, and sound recognition.
In Reception and Key Stage 1, children engage in daily phonics lessons to develop decoding skills and fluency.
In Key Stage 2, phonics continues to be embedded to support reading development and comprehension, ensuring all children become confident, skilled readers.
All staff receive regular phonics training to ensure high-quality teaching and consistency across the school.
Developing a Love for Reading
We cultivate a love for books through a rich reading environment:
Every classroom has a well-stocked book corner with a diverse range of fiction and non-fiction texts.
Our central library is a welcoming space with reading nooks, where children can relax and enjoy books.
Each class visits the library weekly to choose a book for pleasure to take home.
Daily reading opportunities are embedded throughout the school day, including independent reading, guided reading, whole-class reading, and story time sessions.
Reading is promoted across the wider curriculum, with high-quality texts used to support learning in subjects such as science, history, and geography.
Home Reading and Parental Engagement
We actively encourage children to read at home and share books with their families:
From Reception to Year 6, children take home reading books each week matched to their reading level.
Parents are encouraged to listen to their child read regularly and record their progress in reading records.
We host parent workshops to support families with phonics and reading strategies.
Additional guidance and resources are provided to parents to help them support reading at home.
Reading Awards and Incentives
To celebrate and encourage reading, we have a Reading Awards scheme where children earn recognition for their reading achievements:
Bronze Award – 60 reads
Silver Award – 120 reads
Gold Award – 200 reads
Platinum Award – 300 reads
This scheme motivates children to develop a consistent reading habit and fosters a sense of pride in their progress.
Assessment and Support
We use a range of assessments to track reading progress and provide support where needed:
Phonics screening in Year 1 ensures early identification of children needing additional support.
Ongoing teacher assessments help us tailor reading instruction to individual needs.
Intervention programs, including small-group phonics sessions and targeted reading support, help children who require additional assistance.
We closely monitor progress and adjust interventions accordingly to ensure all children become confident readers.
At Mill Lane, we are committed to ensuring that every child develops strong reading skills and a lifelong love of books. Through a structured phonics program, a literacy-rich environment, and a strong home-school partnership, we empower our pupils to become confident, enthusiastic readers.
