English - Reading

   2026 is The National Year of Reading      'This is the biggest campaign in a generation designed to help more people (re)discover the joy of reading and make it part of their everyday lives'. Click here to find out more

 

 At Swinnow Primary, we recognise that reading is fundamental to a child’s development as an independent and successful learner. It is our aim that all children are taught how to be fluent, accurate and confident readers, so they can read with understanding, curiosity and enjoyment.

We use Anima Phonics as our systematic synthetic phonics programme. Anima Phonics provides a structured, engaging approach that supports children to develop strong early reading skills through memorable characters, consistent routines and carefully sequenced teaching. 

 

INTENT

We want our children to:

• Build strong foundations in early reading through secure decoding and growing automaticity
• Read fluently and confidently, developing the reading skills needed to access and succeed across all areas of the curriculum
• Experience a wide and diverse range of texts to help develop a deeper understanding of story structure, vocabulary and authorial choices
• Develop expression and prosody by experiencing high quality modelled reading that  supports fluency, comprehension and engagement
• Understand the meaning of what they have read and what is read to them, strengthening early comprehension and critical thinking
• Make thoughtful, justified responses to what they read, expressing opinions and interpretations

We consider ourselves a community of readers and, as such, adults model and foster positive reading attitudes by:

• Providing regular adult-led story times that immerse children in rich language and imaginative worlds
• Providing high quality texts that develop vocabulary choices and encourage discussions
• Planning engaging shared and guided reading sessions to develop key reading skills 
• Providing choice, time and meaningful opportunities for children to engage with texts
• knowing children's interests, keeping classroom book collections current and engaging
• Providing regular access to a vibrant, well-resourced school library to inspire a love of books
• Sharing own reading preferences, and listening and responding to pupil voice 
• Planning class participation in school and national literacy events which promote reading - including:
  • visits from authors and storytellers
  • online author and illustrator events
  • Take One Book,
  • World Book Day
  • Leeds Library Summer Reading Challenge
  • D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Click to view our Reading Policy.

 Click to view our EYFS Reading Spine.

 Click to view our KS1 and KS2 Reading Spine.

 Click to view our EYFS Reading Progression Map

  Click to view our Whole School Reading Progression Map.

 

 

 

Useful links to support Reading at home:

 

https://animaphonics.com/songs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2025-26

Our School Librarian's wanted to do an assembly about how to use the school library...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024-25

 

 

Book Week - March 2025

 

Take One Book (TOB)

Our first TOB of the year was 'In Our Hands' by Lucy Farfort.

'A timeless fable‚ this debut children’s picture book from author Lucy Farfort is sure to entrance and empower in equal measure. "We called it 'The Dulling'. It had been creeping in for such a long time, and had started so gradually, that most people barely even noticed. As the Dulling spread, people began to fight and isolate themselves from each other. Neighbours became enemies, friends became strangers, and soon all colour was drained from the world."

 

2023-24

Leeds Libraries Summer Challenge

Follow the link below to find out more about the summer reading challenge at your local library:

Parent information poster - click here

 

New for September 2023

    The 5 Plagues of Reading at Swinnow Primary School - click here to find out more

 

 

Click the picture below to find out more about our NEW reading books!

 

 

TAKE ONE BOOK - Summer Term

Across school we have been reading 'Dear Teacher' by Amy Husband as inspiration for our writing tasks. It is a fabulously funny book, full of hilarious letters from a young boy to his new teacher as he prepares for his next class in September. See below for some examples of our wonderful range of work, from Yr1 to Yr6...