Reading at Bearnes
At Bearnes, we believe that a love of reading opens the door to learning. Children experience a rich variety of high‑quality texts through whole‑class reading, Accelerated Reader books, class teaching spines and a wide range of literacy texts. Our approach ensures every child is exposed to engaging stories, diverse authors and meaningful reading experiences.
Whole Class Teaching of ReadingÂ
Each week, every class studies one carefully chosen text through four focused whole‑class reading sessions:
- Read 1: Decoding – Children apply their phonic knowledge to read words accurately and fluently. (This looks different in upper KS2, where phonics is already secure.)
- Read 2: Prosody – Children learn to read aloud with expression, intonation and understanding.
- Read 3: Vocabulary – Key words are introduced and explored, helping children broaden their language and use new vocabulary confidently in different sentences.
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Read 4: Comprehension – Together, we explore the meaning of the text, discussing ideas, themes and key questions. Teachers will plan well thought out questions, prompting pupils to Give/explain the meaning of words in context retrieve and record information/identify key details from fiction and non-fiction, summarise main ideas from more than one paragraph,make inferences from the text: Drawing inferences based on the text and justifying those inferences with evidence,predict what might happen from details stated and implied: Predicting outcomes based on the text's details, and identify and explain how information and narrative content is related and contributes to meaning as a whole
Through this structured, consistent approach, we support children in becoming confident, skilled and enthusiastic readers.
Accelerated Reader at Bearnes
At Bearnes, we use Accelerated Reader to support children in developing confidence, independence and enjoyment in reading. After completing a short Star Assessment, each child is given a personalised reading range to help them choose books that are both enjoyable and appropriately challenging.
Children read their chosen books at school and at home, then complete an online quiz to check their understanding. These quizzes help teachers monitor progress, celebrate success and ensure every child is reading books that support their individual growth.
Accelerated Reader encourages pupils to read regularly, explore a wide variety of texts and take pride in their reading achievements.
Bug Club Reading at Bearnes
At Bearnes, our early reading is supported by the Bug Club phonics scheme, ensuring children build strong foundations in decoding, fluency and comprehension. Each Bug Club book is matched to a child’s phonic stage, giving them the right level of challenge and success.
We follow a three‑read approach to help children become confident, independent readers:
- Read 1 – Decoding: Children focus on sounding out and blending to read the words accurately using their phonic knowledge.
- Read 2 – Fluency: Children revisit the text to build speed, expression and confidence, developing smooth, fluent reading.
- Read 3 – Comprehension: Children explore the meaning of the text through discussion and questions, deepening their understanding.
This structured approach ensures that every child experiences success, develops strong reading habits and enjoys the journey of learning to read.
Reading Interventions at Bearnes
At Bearnes, we act quickly to identify any gaps in children’s reading. Through regular assessment and close monitoring, pupils who need extra support are swiftly recognised. Targeted interventions are then carefully planned and delivered to address specific needs. These sessions are structured, focused and time‑limited, ensuring that gaps are closed as quickly as possible so every child can make strong progress and gain confidence as a reader.
Our Rationale and Aims
 At Bearnes Primary School, we believe reading is at the heart of a child’s education and journey through life. For our school, reading is a key priority. With this in mind, we have designed a high quality, robust and systematic approach to the teaching of phonics. The core principles of our systematic and synthetic phonics programme stem from Bug Club Phonics.
Our high-quality phonics teaching helps children develop their reading, writing, spelling and general communication skills. It also helps secure the crucial skills of word recognition that enables children to read fluently. This approach ensures all children and their abilities are targeted and supported as they begin their reading journey, here at Bearnes. Following this, children are supported throughout their time at Bearnes through the development of active reading strategies and questioning to develop depth and breadth within their reading.
We want all of our pupils to be able to develop a life-long love of reading allowing them to feel empowered by having the skill set needed in order to access the full curriculum in both Primary and Secondary school. Reading should not restrict a pupil obtaining their full potential in life.
 We aim to:
- Develop understanding and skills to become independent, enthusiastic readers.
- Allow children to access age-relevant texts throughout their time at Bearnes
- Understand that language they have acquired, may be relevant across all areas of their learning and to apply that language where possible.
 In direct reference to National Curriculum and Ofsted expectations, we will ensure that:
- direct, focused phonics is taught every day in Reception and key stage 1
- children read from books with the sounds they know, while they are learning to read
- teachers and teaching assistants provide extra practice through the day for the children who make the slowest progress (the lowest 20%)
- all children in Year 3 and above can read age-appropriate books
- teachers instil in children a love of literature: the best stories and poems
If you have any questions or worries about your child's reading. Please speak to Miss Bassett, English Lead.Â
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World Book Day
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World Book Day
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World Book Day