Reading
INTENT
We aim for every child to become a fluent, confident reader with a lifelong love of reading. We want children to read widely and often for both pleasure and information, to access and engage with the full curriculum, and to communicate effectively. By the time they leave us, children will be proficient readers, equipped with the skills to decode, comprehend, and enjoy a wide range of texts.
We recognise that each child has their own starting point upon entry to every year group and progress is measured in line with these starting points to ensure that every child can achieve and celebrate success.
IMPLEMENTATION
Reading is at the heart of our curriculum and is taught progressively from EYFS to Year 6.
In EYFS and KS1, we follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonics programme, a systematic and synthetic approach to teaching phonics. Daily phonics sessions focus on building the three key pillars of reading fluency: accuracy, automaticity, and prosody. The programme is carefully structured to ensure that children revisit and embed prior learning while progressively acquiring new grapheme-phoneme correspondences (GPCs) and tricky words.
Reading books are fully decodable and precisely matched to each child’s current phonics stage, enabling them to apply their phonics knowledge with confidence. Children read these books three times across the week to develop fluency, comprehension, and expression. Regular assessment checkpoints help identify children needing additional support, and tailored catch-up sessions ensure every child keeps pace. This rigorous and consistent approach gives children the best start on their journey to becoming fluent, confident readers.
Additional support is provided through targeted phonics interventions for children who need it, including those in KS2.
In Key Stage 2, we use the VIPERS approach—Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval, and Summarising—to systematically develop reading comprehension skills. Our whole-class reading sessions combine expert teacher-led instruction with collaborative learning and targeted assessment. This structured and engaging approach supports vocabulary acquisition, deepens understanding, and builds confidence in reading. By providing consistent, high-quality reading experiences tailored to the needs of all learners, we aim to foster a lasting love of reading and a foundation for lifelong learning. Children are read to daily to model fluency and inspire a love of reading.
A text-rich curriculum, inviting book corners, and fully resourced libraries in both Key Stage 1 and 2 promote a culture of independent reading across the school. We are committed to nurturing a love of reading in all children by fostering a language-rich environment where they not only develop the skills to become fluent and proficient readers, but also learn to interpret and enjoy texts with understanding. Throughout the school, you’ll find well-equipped reading corners and a vibrant, well-stocked library that inspire reading for pleasure. This reading culture is further enriched through engaging whole-school events such as Vocabulary Day, Author visits and book fairs, all of which celebrate and promote the joy of reading.
IMPACT
Children leave Sissinghurst as fluent, expressive readers who read with understanding and confidence across the curriculum. They talk about books with enthusiasm, engage in thoughtful discussions, and apply their reading skills to deepen learning. Progress is closely monitored through Little Wandle assessments, NTS assessments (Y1–5), and past SATs papers (Y6). Pupil voice, book looks, and learning walks provide ongoing insight into reading quality and inform next steps. Our children not only succeed in reading but also carry a love for it into their futures.
Reading resources