Reading at St Andrew's
At St Andrew’s, our teaching of reading aims to develop a lifelong love of books and the written word. We believe that reading is fundamental to every child’s education and to their success as confident, informed and socially responsible citizens. Through high-quality teaching, we enable all children to:
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Read confidently, fluently and with good understanding.
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Enjoy reading a wide range of books often — for fun and to learn new things.
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Build a strong vocabulary and learn how language works.
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Appreciate and enjoy the rich variety of stories, poems and texts from our literary heritage.
We strive to ensure that every child becomes a confident, enthusiastic reader who can use their reading skills to support learning across the curriculum and to enrich their personal and cultural lives.
At St Andrew’s, we ensure all children develop strong reading skills through a consistent, systematic approach. We follow the Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS) phonics programme, which helps children ‘keep up’ rather than ‘catch up’ through daily, structured teaching and purposeful practice.
Phonics & Early Reading
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Phonics teaching starts in Reception and continues into Year 1, with interventions available for children who need extra support.
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Reading materials are carefully matched to children’s phonics knowledge, supporting confident, independent reading.
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Children not meeting expected standards receive daily keep-up sessions and targeted support in Years 1 and 2.
Year 1 & 2 Reading
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Focus on decoding, fluency, and comprehension.
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Guided reading includes teacher- and TA-led sessions, independent practice, and reading for pleasure.
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Year 2 introduces a wider range of texts, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and novels, ensuring challenge and breadth.
Key Stage 2 Reading
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Whole-class guided reading with extracts for close reading, vocabulary, and comprehension.
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Exposure to high-quality, diverse texts linked to the wider curriculum and reading for pleasure.
Promoting a Love of Reading
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Author visits, regular library access, reading ambassadors, and shared reading opportunities encourage engagement and enjoyment.
Supporting Reading at Home
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Children take home fully decodable books matched to their phonics knowledge.
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Regular home reading (minimum three times per week) is encouraged and rewarded through Dojos in EYFS/KS1 and termly treats in KS2.
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Parent sessions provide guidance on supporting reading at home.