Key Stage 2 – Approach to reading

Through independent reading, shared reading in literacy lessons and cross-curricular sessions, guided reading groups and reading for pleasure, reading in Key Stage 2 develops and extends the skills acquired in Key Stage 1.

Children explore a wide variety of genres, both fiction and non-fiction which allows them to access, input ideas and understand what they are reading.  They are given opportunities to speculate on the tone and purpose of texts they explore as well as to consider both the themes and audience.

Reading is a crucial part of the curriculum and your child’s continuing progress in reading is essential to help them to become a successful learner. Every child at Burlington has a daily reading lesson, as well as cross-curricular opportunities for reading throughout the day. Children also read to adults in school and many of them take part in reading interventions such as Read Write Inc., PIXL and Lexia to develop their fluency in reading.

Support from families is an essential part of developing a child as a reader. Every child has a school reading book, which should be brought home every day and returned to school each morning, along with their reading record. Please write in the reading record when you have heard your child read, with any comments you wish to make.

Did you know that if you can’t read 5% of words in a text, the meaning becomes lost? This is why it is so important to read with your child to help them overcome unfamiliar or tricky words, so that they understand what they are reading. Reading to and with your child every evening for at least ten minutes can make a dramatic difference to a child’s achievement within school. A report from the Oxford University Press highlighted the importance of parents reading with their children: ‘Children who read outside of class are 13 times more likely to read above the expected level for their age’. So why is reading so important?

  • The ability to browse for information helps children to learn and to find facts. Children who read widely are curious, interested and ask questions. Reading encourages them to think about “if” and “why?”

  • Reading different kinds of books about different people and situations helps children to make sense of the world we live in and to think about why or how others think and behave the way they do. Sometimes reading about people facing up to problems or strong feelings can help children find ways of coping with their own emotions.

  • Reading is the perfect way to develop vocabulary and to become aware of how language can be used to communicate. Being a reader will improve your child’s spelling and writing and will provide a solid foundation for learning across the curriculum.

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