Intent

At The Ridge we intend for every child to become a fluent, confident reader. We believe that with the right teaching and the right texts, every child can become a reader. We intend for all of our children to understand the significance of reading both during their time with us and for their future lives. We believe that as well as being a pleasurable activity which provides escapism and comfort, reading should also provide connection to their own lives whilst at the same time opening their minds to the lives and experiences of others. We intend for children to be challenged by their reading: to wonder, empathise, question, evaluate, challenge, and reflect on the past whilst being equipped for the future. We intend for children to leave us having read a variety of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

We intend to equip children to take part in meaningful conversations about texts which deepen their understanding of texts and the world. Furthermore, our intention is that children will experience an ambitious, challenging curriculum. One which develops their word-reading, fluency and language comprehension whilst at the same time instilling a love of reading which will last them a lifetime.

We intend for all children to not only learn to read but to learn from their reading too. We believe that reading should sit at the heart of the curriculum and strengthen the learning across the curriculum and in writing, and develop children on a spiritual, moral, cultural and social level.

We aim for the children to be able to:

• Reading easily, fluently and with good understanding
• Choose to read widely and often, both for pleasure and to learn from their reading
• Acquire a deep and broad vocabulary
• Appreciate a range of texts
• Use their reading to inform their writing
• Take part in discussions which deepen understanding, help them to learn and shape their opinions
• Understand what they have read by reading strategically

Key Components of The Ridge’s Reading Curriculum

• Phonics
• Daily Read Aloud
• Reading Comprehension
• Fluency
• Poetry off by Heart
• Vocabulary
• Quality texts