At Wednesbury Oak, children take home a two reading books. One, a book, chosen by each individual child, from class libraries, as a reading for pleasure book - to share and enjoy in school and at home. The other, a Big Cat Collins banded book, which is appropriate to their reading ability.

For early readers, books are linked to their progress within the phonic phases, allowing them to use their developing phonic and whole word knowledge to read independently. 

Reading holds great importance in our school curriculum and continuing to read at home is vital. Research shows that it's the single most important thing parents/carers can do to help a child's education. As a school, the expectation is that children should read at home each night. When children are read to or heard read, a log should be made in their reading diary, which should be brought in to school daily. A record of the number of signed reading diaries is kept by class teachers and the class who reads the most at home each week is crowned Class Reading Champion. Class Reading Champions are announced each week in Headteacher's assembly, where they are awarded with a trophy. 

Supporting your child in their Reading

Before your child reads a book, ask:

• Why did you select this book?
• What makes you think this book is going to be interesting?
• What do you think the book is going to be about?
• Does this book remind you of anything else you’ve already read or seen?
• What kind of characters do you think will be in the book?
• What do you think is going to happen?

While your child is reading a book, try asking:

• Will you catch me up on the story? What’s happened so far?
• What do you think will happen next?
• If you were that character, what would you have done differently in that situation?
• If the book was a TV show, which actors would you cast in it?
• Where is the book set?
• If the main character in that story lived next door, would you be friends?
• What does the place look like in your head as you read? Would you want to visit there?
• Did you learn any new words or facts so far?

After your child has finished a book, ask questions like:

• What was your favourite part of the book? Why?
• Who was your favourite character? Why?
• What was the most interesting thing you learned from the book?
• Why do you think the author wrote this book?
• Would you have ended the book differently? Did it end the way you thought it would?
• Did the problem of the book’s plot get solved?