Reading at Rivendell

Why do we teach our children to read?

Teaching our children to read at Rivendell is essential as it forms the foundation for all learning and equips them with crucial life skills. Reading enhances communication, builds vocabulary, and fosters creativity, imagination, and empathy by exposing children to diverse ideas and perspectives. It empowers them to explore independently, boosting confidence and preparing them for future opportunities. By fostering a love for reading early on, we help our children develop the skills they need to succeed academically, socially, and in life beyond school.

How do we teach our children to read at Rivendell?

At Rivendell, we are passionate about fostering confident, skilled, and enthusiastic readers. Our approach begins in Nursery, where children are introduced to the pre-phonics skills needed for transition into full time school.  When arriving in Foundation 2, our children build on these pre-phonics skills through a systematic phonics programme that lays the foundation for reading. This programme continues through to Year 2, ensuring that every child develops a secure understanding of phonics and early decoding skills.

As children progress from Foundation 2 (F2) through to Key Stage 2, they take part in structured reading sessions that develop fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking. These sessions are carefully designed to meet the needs of all learners, combining group and individual reading opportunities with focused knowledge and skill development.

Reading is seamlessly integrated into our enquiry curriculum through carefully selected key texts. These texts enrich learning, deepen understanding across subjects, and expose children to a wide variety of genres, themes, and cultures.

We also prioritise the importance of reading for pleasure. Our school environment is designed to immerse children in the joy of reading, with inviting library areas, that are well-stocked with a range of texts, and opportunities to explore stories independently and with peers. By encouraging a love for books and stories, we help children see reading not just as a skill, but as a lifelong source of enjoyment and inspiration.

At Rivendell, each year group is introduced to spotlight authors to provide children with exposure to a diverse range of voices, cultures, and perspectives. These carefully chosen authors inspire a love for reading while helping children develop empathy, critical thinking, and an appreciation for different storytelling styles. Through this approach, we aim to nurture skilled, open-minded, and culturally aware readers.

Please click on the links below to further explore how we teach our children to read in more detail