Early Reading

We will facilitate this through the sharing of a wide range of children’s literature, which is both read to and by the children. We have a well-stocked school library, which will be available for children to use in 2021 once phase 2 of the development is completed. Each classroom will have an inviting reading corner stocked with a range of books to captivate children. We will actively promote wider reading and for children to visit local libraries. Once the school is open, we aim to foster a link with Wandsworth Library, and regularly take the children on class visits to the library to promote such a valuable resource. In addition, we will provide opportunities for children to meet authors (from a range of Anglo and Lusophone backgrounds), so that they can be inspired to read and grow a love for reading.

Phonics will be taught in Reception and Year 1, daily. Children are grouped according to their phonics level.

Accompanying this we will use the  Read Write Inc phonic readers. Supporting early readers through decodable books, these schemes introduce phonic concepts sequentially in a structured way, promoting blending as the principal strategy in learning to read. The books are designed to help children experience enthusiasm and success in the early stages of learning to read, building up confidence from the very beginning. Each level introduces new sounds and includes previous sounds so that readers build on previous knowledge making these books excellent for reinforcement and consolidation of learning.  Children will begin to read in Portuguese, once their phonics reading is secure in English.