Reading
Our vision for reading
At Enfield Heights Academy, we believe that it is the right of every child to become a competent and confident reader; able to live, work and succeed in the literate world with a passion for reading. Reading is one of our curriculum drivers.
We believe that children should be able to:
• read fluently and confidently,
• use a wide vocabulary accurately and effectively,
• be able to critique a range of fiction and non-fiction texts,
• access the wider curriculum to its fullest and therefore to succeed in all areas of their learning.
• acquire the necessary reading skills to become ‘A Force for Positive Change’
Reading enables children to gain an invaluable insight into a world of imagination and therefore we understand our responsibility to foster a love of reading from a young age. By carefully selecting texts appropriate to our school and wider context, we aim to develop the cultural capital needed for children to succeed in a 21st Century adult life. Crucially, we aim to foster a love of literature and language through widespread reading for enjoyment.
Find out how we teach Early Years reading here.
Find out how we teach reading in Year 1 here.
Find out how we teach reading in Years 2-6 here.
Find a help sheet on how to help your child at home with reading here.
How to encourage your child to read more.
Here are some things you could do at home to help to encourage your child to read for pleasure.
Set a good example
Let your child know that you value books and all types of reading and make sure they see you reading: newspapers, poems, news items on websites, blogs, physical books, your e books on yourKindle.
Don’t stop reading to your child
Some children love being read to, even when they are older and become fluent readers themselves. Read in your own language; it will help your child understand as the languages are transferable.
Make time to read
Set some time aside for family reading, perhaps at bedtime. You could even switch off the wi-fi and put away game controllers after dinner! Reading helps everyone to relax and wind down from a busy day at school and at work.
Listen to your child read out loud
Reading aloud improves our memory of the words. So ask your child to read aloud. Maybe in the kitchen or in the car. They could even read to a sibling, a grandparent, family friend or carer. Some children even like to read to their pets!
Talk about reading
Share your views about books you have loved to read and also books that you have not enjoyed. Remember that reading is great fun – But that it is okay not to like a book!
Don’t just read books
Encourage your child to read in different formats: magazines, newspapers, comics, on the Internet, on a tablet or Kindle. Why not look at some book trailers together on YouTube to help choose their next book to read.
Let them read what they want
Don’t pressurise your children into reading what YOU think they should read. Reading is highly individual. The important thing is to get them reading.
Visit a bookshop
Take the family to a book shop. Spend some time browsing through the children’s section together. If your budget allows, choose a new book to buy. Alternatively, you could browse the children’s books on Amazon or visit your local library.
Encourage them to use both the school and local libraries
Visit libraries to find new books to read. They are free and easy to use.
Subscribe to a magazine of your child’s choice
Let your child choose a comic or magazine they really like and subscribe to it, if you are able to afford it. They’ll love receiving it in the post each month and will be more likely to read it if they chose it. A subscription makes a great birthday or Christmas gift.
Reading Resources
Early reading at Enfield Heights – Information for parents. See here.
How to support your child reading at home. See here.
About the Read Aloud Initiative
We believe that reading aloud is a powerful tool for nurturing young minds. Here’s what the Read Aloud Initiative is all about:
Building Strong Foundations: Reading aloud helps children develop crucial language and literacy skills from an early age. It enhances vocabulary, comprehension, and listening skills.
Fostering a Love for Books: We want to instill a passion for reading in our students. Through engaging stories and interactive sessions, we hope to make books their lifelong companions.
Creating a Bond: Reading aloud is a wonderful way for parents, guardians, and teachers to bond with children. It creates lasting memories and deepens relationships.
Why Read Aloud Matters
Boosts Academic Performance: Studies show that students who are read to regularly perform better in school. Reading aloud sets the foundation for academic success.
Enhances Imagination: Books take us to different worlds and ignite the imagination. Children who are read to are more creative and imaginative.
Improves Concentration: Listening to stories improves a child’s attention span, a valuable skill both in school and everyday life.
Builds Empathy: Through stories, children learn about different cultures, experiences, and perspectives, fostering empathy and understanding.
Get Involved
We invite parents, teachers, and students to get involved in our Read Aloud Campaign:
Read Aloud at Home: Spend quality time with your child by reading books together. It’s a bonding experience that they will cherish.
Volunteer: Details to be announced.
Book Donations: Help us build a diverse library for our students by donating books or funds to purchase new ones.
Resources:
Explore the following resources to make the most of the Read Aloud Initiative:
Reading List: Find a curated list of age-appropriate books for your child on our website when we relaunch Read Aloud in November.
Tips for Effective Read Aloud: Learn how to make your read-aloud sessions engaging and enjoyable for your child. New resources coming soon when we relaunch Read Aloud in November.
Join us in creating a community of avid readers through the Read Aloud Initiative.
Together, we can inspire a lifelong love for reading in our young learners.
Free resources
Welcome to our dedicated space for parents and guardians who are passionate about fostering a love of reading in their children, both at home and beyond the classroom.
In today’s fast-paced, digital world, instilling a habit of reading in children can be challenging, yet it remains an invaluable skill for their personal and academic development. Here, you’ll find an array of resources, hints, and tips designed to help you navigate this journey with ease and enjoyment.
Our goal is to empower you with practical strategies and creative ideas to make reading a delightful and regular part of your family’s routine. From selecting the right books to creating engaging reading environments, we cover all aspects to make reading an adventure that your child looks forward to every day.
We believe that every child is unique, and our resources are tailored to meet diverse needs and interests, ensuring that there’s something for every young reader.
Join us as we explore the wonderful world of books, unlocking the magic of words and imagination.
Let’s turn the page together and embark on a journey that not only enhances reading skills but also builds a foundation for lifelong learning and curiosity.
To promote a love of reading in the classroom, each classroom book area at Enfield Heights offers children a selection of texts aimed to both inspire and motivate reading. Reading books on display in each classroom book corner are updated and replenished regularly to ensure we offer a range of books related to current learning.
Reading Spine
Our Enfield Heights reading spine is used to promote a love of reading through class story times. We have a list of core storytime texts for each year group to be enjoyed during regular, timetabled storytime sessions. We aim to include a diverse range of texts set in the UK and around the world that reflect our diverse and unique Heights community.
To share what each class is reading, all classes proudly display the title of their current class reading book on their door. You can find out more about our reading spine here.
Reading Road Map
Reading Road Map is aimed at broadening the children’s reading horizons. It is allows children to explore different books, authors and share recommendations with their peers. All the titles on each map (other than the Classics genre) have been published within the last 12 months, and no author has more than 1 title per map.
How can it be used?
•Each book title also has a coloured dot to signify how challenging each book is. The challenging level key is explained on the map each child will receive to bring to and from home.
•Once a child has read a book, they can get it ticked off on their checklist by an adult at school.
•When children have read five books a bronze award will be awarded, ten books a silver certificate and twenty books children will be presented with a gold certificate. Once children have read more than twenty plus books, children will be awarded a special achievement certificate and a prize by the headteacher.
World Book Day
At Enfield Heights Academy, we love celebrating World Book day, giving the children the opportunity to dress up as their favourite book character and share their love of books. We also join in with other initiatives throughout the year related to reading and books – our aim will always encourage children to be hooked by books!
