Reading at Gawthorpe Community Academy
At Gawthorpe Community Academy, we believe that reading is the heart of our curriculum. Our primary goal is to foster relishing readers – children who don’t just read because they have to, but who dive into books with curiosity, excitement and purpose.
We don’t view reading as a standalone subject; rather, it is an immersive experience woven into the fabric of every school day. By exposing our pupils to a diverse range of genres – from poetry and gripping narratives to technical non-fiction – across all subjects, we ensure that every child finds a “hook” that ignites their personal passion for the written word.
To build a genuine pleasure for reading, we provide consistent opportunities for children to get lost in a story:
Weekly Library Sessions: Every class has dedicated time in our school library, allowing children the autonomy to browse, select and discuss books that interest them.
Weekly reading for pleasure sessions allow children to further broaden their horizons, whilst being exposed to a range of genres to strengthen their wider world of literature.
In Early Years and Key Stage One, we lay the groundwork for literacy through Read Write Inc. This is a comprehensive, rigorous phonics programme designed to get every child reading the right way, right from the start.
Our Intentions with RWI:
Phonics first: We use synthetic phonics to teach children the sounds (phonemes) and the letters that represent them (graphemes).
Decoding and blending: By breaking words down and “blending” them back together, children gain the confidence to tackle new words independently.
Success from day one: Books are closely matched to the sounds the children have learned in class, ensuring they experience immediate success and build a positive self-image as a “reader.”
Once children have mastered the mechanics of decoding through RWI, our focus shifts toward developing fluent, expressive readers. From Year 2 onwards, we transition into a Whole Class Reading approach.
The Fluency Bridge
We prioritize fluency – the ability to read with accuracy, appropriate speed and expression. We believe that when a child can read effortlessly, their brain is “freed up” to focus on the most important part of reading: understanding.
Developing Deep Comprehension
Through our whole-class approach, we move beyond simple literal questions. We engage children in high-level discussions to develop:
Inference: Reading between the lines to understand character motives and subtext.
Prediction: Using evidence from the text to anticipate future events.
Vocabulary Acquisition: Explicitly teaching ambitious language found in high-quality texts.
Analysis: Exploring how authors use language to create atmosphere or persuade the reader.
“At Gawthorpe, we aren’t just teaching children how to read; we are empowering them to become lifelong learners who see books as a gateway to new worlds.”
