Reading Offer
Reading at The Minster Juniors Croydon
At The Minster Juniors Croydon, we aim for all our children to become fluent, confident readers who are passionate about reading.
Children who read regularly or are read to regularly have the opportunity to open the doors to so many different worlds! More importantly, reading will give your child the tools to become independent life-long learners. We achieve this through:
- Story time every day
- A text led curriculum using high quality texts
- Teaching of Reading
- Reading competitions
- Organising for parent volunteers to listen to children read
- Book Weeks
- Book Swap Events
- Highly engaging class book corners that are well stocked
- A well-stocked library area, dedicated time for class visits
- Daily phonics interventions to support children with decoding and comprehension skills
Read Write Inc. Phonics
We use Read Write Inc. Phonics (RWI) to give your child the best possible start with their literacy. We have included links below, with helpful videos to support your child at home.
What is Read Write Inc. Phonics?
https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/2Tw5lvXE/cdPQgwKl
Understanding Phonics:
https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/1iVx2HcP/oYWeSOIl
How to say the sounds:
https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/jOzpxktM/i9rkJj4A
Why read to your child?
https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/h4P28GI3/iNXVkjmA
The Minster Junior School: Reading Offer
“If we want our children to thrive, teaching them to read is not enough – they must learn to enjoy it.”
At The Minster Junior School reading is taught daily through a differentiated small group approach, that we call the Teaching of Reading. This approach has been key for increasing pupil engagement and developing their love of reading. We have invested in high-quality training and texts to ensure our pupils receive the best reading offer available.
We aim for our children to become confident, proficient readers who enjoy reading and are totally engaged with their reading activities.
Free reading books:
Free eBook library – practise reading with phonics eBooks – Oxford Owl
Recommended Reads:
Primary School Reading Lists for Children aged 3-11
How to Read with your children at home:
While reading to/with your child, try to engage them by:
- Try to bring the books to life – talk about the characters, the pictures and what’s happening so the story can capture your child’s imagination.
- Don’t be afraid to try different voices.
- Encourage your child to turn the page or point to the words, if they would like to.
- Discuss what might happen next
- Make links to other stories, where appropriate
- Pause during a repeated phrase/word to give your child an opportunity to fill a gap.
- Spot rhyming words together, or pause to encourage your child to fill in the missing word.
- Have fun! If you and your child are having fun, this will help develop a love of reading.
HeadStart Primary:
HeadStart reading materials ensure that all pupils enjoy a valuable reading experience. The scheme provides our school with a range of age-appropriate, differentiated texts and activities.
The fiction and non-fiction texts have been chosen carefully to stimulate the children’s interest and imagination. The activities are designed to improve children’s comprehension of a text. The emphasis is purely on improving children’s reading and their understanding of a text.
Additional Reading Opportunities at The Minster Junior School:
In addition to the Minster’s Reading Offer, pupils will also benefit from:
1:1 Reading with the Class Teacher and Teaching Assistants
Provision is made for all children to accelerate their progress; pupils receive 1:1 reading sessions to boost their fluency once every two weeks. Children who need additional support or who have fewer opportunities to read at home, will receive additional 1:1 reading sessions, dependant on their need.
The Minster Junior School library:
The Minster Junior School offers a wide range of high-quality classic and contemporary texts from different genres in our ‘Chill Out Zone’ and within the classrooms.
Visits to Croydon Library:
Children across our school will have the opportunity to visit the local library for events at least once a year.
Visiting Authors:
Throughout the year, children will meet a range of visiting authors who inspire them to read more widely and learn about what writing a book involves from a published author’s perspective.
Book Week & World Book Day:
The Minster Junior School always celebrates World Book Day as part of a specially themed week full of exciting activities that raise the profile of reading and motivate the children to be more adventurous in their selection of books. Previous Book Weeks have included:
Visiting authors
Themed dress-up day
Reading competitions
Visits to the local library
Book Fairs
Visiting theatres
