Welcome to our library!
At St Mary’s we believe that reading is at the heart of all we do here. We see teaching children to read and love reading as a fundamental and crucial part of our school offer. It is essential that all children learn to read fluently and with enjoyment whilst with us.
Our library is at the heart of our school.
When you first enter the library, you will see our topic bookshelf – organised to match our Pioneer Curriculum cycles by year group, cycle and term. This makes it easy and clear for staff and children to be able to access the books they need that are tied to their current topic.
Alongside the topic books, we have organised our books to follow a clear trajectory from early reading, Little Wandle phonic scheme books through colour-banded books that progress through stages and ages according to growing accuracy, fluency and comprehension.
Children start their journey by following the Little Wandle ‘synthetic phonics’ reading scheme in daily whole class, 1:1, small group and home reading opportunities.
We use ‘Boomreader’ for parents of all children from Reception to Year 6 to log home reading and for the school to track home engagement.
The Library has been organised to ensure there are books that children can choose for ‘reading for pleasure’ that are not ‘Little Wandle’ scheme specific books but are roughly matched to their stage of reading.
These books are banded into colours according to Peters books.
There are also a wide range of appealing picture books that children can chose to share with another – such as an older child or parent. These are labelled as ‘picture books to share’.
We recently introduced an electronic cataloguing and borrowing system called ‘Reading Cloud’. Our Library monitors are excitedly learning how to use the electronic scanner and helping the children to borrow books!
Reading in Reception and Key Stage One
Pupils start reading books that match their phonic phases in Reception, these books move from Phase 2 to Phase 5 and link directly with the daily phonics teaching. Children take home a weekly phonics book and a supplementary book that matches the phonic sounds they are working on.
If you are looking on ways to support your child with their reading journey, please use the link below to access the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised website. We are proud to be using the programme in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 and understand the vital role that parents play in encouraging and supporting their children to become confident readers.
www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents
Supporting Your Child With Reading
Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home.
There are two types of reading book that your child will bring home:
A reading practice book. This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. They should be able to read this fluently and independently.
A sharing book. Your child will not be able to read this on their own. This book is for you both to read and enjoy together.
Reading Practice Book
This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.
Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.
Sharing Book
In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together.
Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun.
Reading in Key Stage 2
When children are confident with all phase 5 sounds and words they move onto coloured reading band books. These are Purple, White, Gold and Lime books. Children reading these books are consolidating their fluency and reading skills. Children can take home multiple books for the week.
When children are confident with these reading skills they move into our ‘free reader’ section. These are progressive longer/chapter like books and are grouped into ‘Gems’ moving from Pearl all the way to Ruby. Children can choose any book in the gem band they are in and read these books until they have finished.
