Reading at Woodberry Down
Reading is at the heart of our curriculum at Woodberry Down. We empower children to be fluent and confident readers through a structured and creative English curriculum with high-quality texts at its heart.
Reading for Pleasure
Alongside technical reading skills, we place great emphasis on reading for pleasure and endeavour to develop a lifelong love of reading in our children. Teachers read to their pupils every day and children are motivated to read widely both inside and outside of school.
Reading Pathways
At New Wave, we have created reading pathways to develop children's reading in lessons, at home and when reading for pleasure so that every child sees themselves as a reader. Within each year group, multiple copies of core reading for pleasure books are available for children to read, enjoy and discuss. You can view these texts in the links below. Alongside these each class reading area has a wide selection of texts which include picture books, novels, short chapter books, graphic novels, poetry anthologies and non-fiction texts.
Nursery
In Nursery, we follow a book-based curriculum. Each topic that they learn is linked to a high quality and engaging picture book as well as non-fiction texts. They also enjoy daily storytime, so all children are read a story at least once every day. Our team is highly skilled in prompting child-led book talk when reading to encourage early language development and instil a passion for books.
Reception
The curriculum in reception is underpinned by a book based approach. All learning is linked to a high quality and engaging picture book as well as non-fiction texts. Story time is timetabled every day so that children can enjoy at least one story each day. Our team is highly skilled in prompting child-led book talk when reading to encourage early language development and instil a passion for books.
Year 1
In Year 1, children look forward to their daily story time. Teachers select books that children will look forward to and love. These carefully selected books will also expose them to new words to extend and deepen children’s vocabulary.
Year 2
In Year 2, children look forward to their daily story time. Teachers select books that children will look forward to and love. These carefully selected books will also expose them to new words to extend and deepen children’s vocabulary.
Year 3
In Year 3 children collectively read a class novel each day. Twice a week they enjoy DEAR (Drop Everything and Read). This is 20 minutes of dedicated time for children to read a book of their choice, and it reinforces the importance of making time for reading.
Year 4
In Year 4 children collectively read a class novel each day. Twice a week they enjoy DEAR (Drop Everything and Read). This is 20 minutes of dedicated time for children to read a book of their choice, and it reinforces the importance of making time for reading.
Year 5
In Year 5 children read a class novel daily. Twice a week they enjoy DEAR (Drop Everything and Read). This is 20 minutes of dedicated time for children to read a book of their choice, and it reinforces the importance of making time for reading. Chatterbooks Book Club is also available for children to help build a lifelong reading habit.
Year 6
In Year 6 children read a class novel daily. Twice a week they enjoy DEAR (Drop Everything and Read). This is 20 minutes of dedicated time for children to read a book of their choice, and it reinforces the importance of making time for reading. Chatterbooks Book Club is also available for children to help build a lifelong reading habit.