Reading
Intent
At James Oglethorpe Primary School, our vision for reading is that every child becomes a confident, motivated and thoughtful reader, equipped with the fluency, comprehension and enjoyment needed for lifelong learning.
- We aim to teach decoding and fluency rigorously through Read Write Inc., ensuring all children — including those in KS2 — receive the phonics support they need to secure strong foundations.
- Our curriculum values reading for pleasure just as highly. Through read-alouds, class readers, and home-reading initiatives such as our Bedtime Fox, we aim to build intrinsic motivation and a love of books.
- Across all year groups, teachers carefully select high-quality, diverse texts that enrich vocabulary (tier 2 and tier 3), model language and structure, and spark meaningful discussion around British Values, diversity, empathy and inclusion.
- In KS2 we adapt and personalise the VIPERS framework to create a rich, engaging comprehension curriculum that builds fluency, vocabulary, inference, analysis and explanation skills.
- Our Reading Ambassadors help champion reading across the school community, strengthening pupil leadership and ensuring children’s voices shape our reading culture.
Overall, our intent is a balanced reading experience: one that secures the skills of decoding and comprehension while nurturing the joy, curiosity and social connection that reading brings.
Implementation
1) High-quality phonics and decoding teaching
- Read Write Inc is delivered daily in Early Years and KS1.
- In KS2, targeted phonics support ensures all children secure essential decoding skills.
2) Reading in Early Years & KS1 through play and shared experiences
- “Learning in the moment” opportunities enable children to explore books and print through play.
- Adults scaffold reading behaviours and listen regularly to children read.
- Daily story time exposes children to rich vocabulary and complex language structures.
3) Reading for Pleasure — including Bedtime Fox
- The Bedtime Fox initiative encourages home reading routines and supports positive family engagement with books.
- Children are offered recommendations, reading logs, and opportunities to celebrate their reading.
4) KS2 comprehension curriculum using an adapted VIPERS approach
- VIPERS is adapted to meet pupils’ needs and interests, creating engaging lessons that deepen understanding.
- Strategies include echo reading, vocabulary instruction, language analysis, retrieval/inference/explain questions, and structured discussion.
- Scaffolds (sentence stems, organisers, vocabulary prompts) build confidence and independence.
5) KS2 Padlet Reading Records & Weekly Book Clubs
- KS2 pupils use Padlet as their digital reading record.
- Children respond weekly to a key learning question about their reading — encouraging reflection, inference, vocabulary use and personal response.
- These reflections are then discussed during weekly class Book Clubs, where pupils share insights, explore themes, and engage in rich book talk.
6) English curriculum texts and class readers
- Each year group studies carefully selected texts that develop vocabulary, phrasing, structure and comprehension while also opening discussion on identity, values and diversity.
- Every class has a Class Reader, read aloud purely for pleasure, to model fluency, broaden exposure to texts and foster community.
7) Reading across the curriculum
- Tier 2 and tier 3 vocabulary is explicitly taught in all subjects.
- Reading materials across the curriculum reinforce disciplinary language and knowledge.
8) Scaffolding and inclusion
- Pre-teaching vocabulary, guided reading, paired reading and targeted support ensure all children, including EAL and SEND learners, can access challenging texts and succeed.
9) Reading Ambassadors – Pupil Leadership
Our Reading Ambassadors are trained pupil leaders who:
- promote reading around the school
- gather pupil voice about reading habits and interests
- plan and deliver reading-for-pleasure events
- help organise initiatives such as reading challenges, assemblies, book fairs or themed weeks
Their role ensures reading culture is shaped with children.
10) Teacher Development & Reading Community
- Teachers model expressive reading, recommend books and promote book talk.
- Staff build extensive knowledge of children’s literature, supported by research-informed practice.
Impact
1) Strong decoding, fluency & comprehension
- Children become fluent, confident readers through systematic phonics and scaffolded practice.
- VIPERS-based comprehension leads to improved inference, retrieval, vocabulary and explanation skills.
2) Rich vocabulary and language development
- Exposure to high-quality texts and explicit vocabulary teaching supports speaking, reading and writing.
- Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary strengthens subject knowledge across the curriculum.
3) Motivation, engagement & a love of reading
- Class Readers, read-alouds, Bedtime Fox and Reading Ambassadors create a culture where reading is celebrated.
- Weekly Book Clubs and Padlet reflections encourage children to think deeply and share enthusiasm for books.
- A commitment to maintaining an inspiring reading environment, including our newly refurbished library, stocked with diverse authors, themes, classics, graphic novels and comics to promote inclusivity and enjoyment.
4) Social & emotional benefits
- Shared reading builds empathy, wellbeing, discussion skills and class community.
- Reading Ambassadors promote inclusion and help ensure every child feels part of the school’s reading culture.
5) Equity & access
- Through scaffolds, targeted phonics, shared reading and rich book talk, we work to ensure every child can participate successfully, regardless of background or starting point.
6) Preparation for future learning
- Children leave James Oglethorpe as fluent, reflective, and enthusiastic readers ready to tackle the demands of secondary school and beyond.
Key Documents
KS1 VIPERS Questions
KS2 VIPERS Questions