Reading at The Pines

At The Pines, reading is a cornerstone of the learning experience, and pupils are provided with a variety of reading opportunities tailored to their needs and development levels. These include:

  • Access to key texts
  • Whole-class reading
  • Small group reading
  • Guided reading
  • Individual reading
  • Pre-phonics activities
  • Phonics instruction through Read Write Inc. (RWI)
  • Functional reading
  • Home reading activities and books
  • Reading through exploration
  • Scheduled library sessions
  • Cross-curricular reading opportunities
  • Access to books throughout the day

Reading is primarily taught through English lessons and dedicated phonics/reading sessions.

Reading for Children with Autism

Children with Autism often face unique challenges when learning to read. Autism being a spectrum means these challenges vary widely, but they often include difficulties with foundational language, social skills, and comprehension, which can impact their reading readiness and approach to learning. At The Pines, we explicitly provide strategies and tools to help children with Autism succeed as readers.

Aims of Our Reading Program

  • Raise standards in reading across the school.
  • Establish a consistent, structured approach to reading.
  • Ensure all children learn and practice reading skills appropriate to their developmental stage.
  • Provide access to Read Write Inc when appropriate.
  • Foster positive attitudes toward reading, making it enjoyable and meaningful.
  • Integrate reading as a fundamental element in all areas of the curriculum.
  • Equip pupils with diverse reading strategies to confidently tackle reading challenges and access the wider curriculum.
  • Encourage fluency and independence in reading a variety of texts.
  • Develop functional reading skills to prepare pupils for their future.

Teaching and Learning

At The Pines, teaching reading is a top priority. Reading underpins a child’s ability to access the curriculum, enhances their vocabulary, and sparks imagination. We allocate sufficient time for phonics and reading instruction, tailored to each pupil’s reading pathway. For some students, functional reading is prioritised to provide essential life skills, while others follow the progression toward independent and pleasure-driven reading

Read, Write, Inc

Reading Pathways

  • Pre-Phonics Pathway: Pupils develop foundational skills such as early attention, auditory and visual discrimination, and imitation through activities like exploration, tray tasks, group sessions, and one-on-one activities.
  • Phonics Teaching (RWI): Pupils ready for phonics progress to the Read Write Inc. program, taught through individualised or small-group sessions. This includes learning 44 sounds, sound-blending, reading phonetically matched books, and developing comprehension through guided discussions.
  • Bug Club Books: After completing RWI, pupils transition to levelled Bug Club books.
  • Free Reading: Pupils eventually become free readers, selecting books independently.
  • Functional Reading: Older pupils in secondary who are not reading-ready focus on functional reading to prepare for life beyond The Pines. If they become reading-ready, they can join the RWI program.

Independent Reading

All children engage in independent reading sessions with teachers and teaching assistants, guided by clear learning intentions. Books are matched to their reading level and pathway. For those not yet ready for formal reading, activities include exploring picture books and shared reading with an adult. All progress is documented on The Pines Reading Record.

Whole Class, Shared, and Small Group Reading

  • Whole-Class/Shared Reading: Delivered using techniques like Attention Autism to sustain engagement. Sessions may include symbols to aid understanding, with texts linked to termly topics.
  • Small Group Reading: Organized by similar reading levels, these sessions involve turn-taking, comprehension activities, and guided reading exercises

Reading for Pleasure

We strive to cultivate a love for reading by emphasising enjoyment and pleasure. Reading or story time is regularly timetabled, and each department has a library alongside book corners in classrooms, filled with a range of engaging and diverse fiction and non-fiction texts.

  • In EYFS and Primary, we feature an Author of the Month and provide story sacks to encourage exploration.
  • In the Secondary library, teachers recommend books each month to help pupils explore new genres and topics.

By prioritizing these varied approaches, we aim to ensure that all pupils at The Pines thrive as confident, capable, and enthusiastic readers.

Early Years Library

KS1 and KS2 Library

KS3 and KS4 Library

Digital Library

Love Reading 4 Kids

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Open Library

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Funbrain

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International Children's Digital Library

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Book Trust

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Collins

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Oxford Owl

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Scholastic

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Stories with Symbols

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