Reading is essential for all pupils at Straits Primary School and is at the heart of our curriculum. Reading skills are taught and applied in creative and inspiring lessons, in a range of subject areas. Our aim is to teach children to become confident and competent readers by learning how to decode, then comprehend, a wide range of texts with increased independence. We aim to ensure that all children leave our school with good word recognition and good language comprehension, as well as a love for reading.

National curriculum

The overarching aim for English as outlined in the ‘National curriculum in England: English programmes of study’ (2014) is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment. The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

• read easily, fluently and with good understanding
• develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
• acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
• appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
• write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
• use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
• are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.