Reading to and with your child is the single most important way you can support their learning. These are some of benefits of reading:

Massive Vocabulary and Cognitive Boost: Children whose parents read to them five times daily will hear nearly 1.5 million more words by age five than those not read to (Ohio State University, via United Through Reading). Brain scans show that hearing stories strengthens areas associated with visual imagery, story comprehension, and word meaning (LoveReading4Kids), laying crucial neurological groundwork for language and literacy.

Strengthens Bonds and Emotional Well-being: Reading aloud fosters a special connection, with 85% of parents believing it develops a closer bond with their child (BookTrust, via LoveReading4Kids). It's also a powerful tool for emotional development, as shared reading can significantly reduce stress levels (68% reduction) and help children learn to process feelings (University of Sussex, via LoveReading4Kids).

Foundation for Academic Success: Children who engage in shared reading perform better in literacy assessments entering primary school (Education Endowment Foundation, via LoveReading4Kids). Reading for pleasure is even more important for children's educational success than their family's socio-economic status (OECD, via GOV.UK), with proficient readers in primary school earning £65,000 more over their lifetime (Department for Education and National Literacy Trust, 2025).

Cultivates Independent Reading and Identifies Challenges: While reading to children is vital, active listening as they read helps them practice. Children who are read to daily are almost three times as likely to choose to read independently (HarperCollins). Listening to them also allows parents to identify areas where children might struggle, such as reading age, which social book clubs have shown can increase by up to 1 year and 3 months for reluctant readers (HarperCollins, 2025).

You can help your child grow as a reader through reading to your child, hearing your child read and talking with your child about what they and you have read. 

Reception & Year 1

In Reception and Year 1, please listen to your child read their decodable reading book, which they bring home after reading three times at school.  We develop different skills as part of our reading practice: decoding, prosody and comprehension.  When your child reads to you they should be almost ‘showing off’ their reading skills and it is important that you encourage them to show you what they have been practising in school.  The inner cover of these books provides ‘reading notes’ for parents and it is useful to read over before listening to your child.  Little and often helps to embed all of these important skills as well as strengthen confidence and enjoyment and we expect all pupils to read at home every day.  

In addition, we encourage children to choose and take home a class library book (which you read to your child) - this can be enjoyed throughout the week.  It is not expected that your child will be able to read the library book as it will contain alphabetic sounds not yet taught; the focus of this book is reading for pleasure and important discussion with you to develop their language skills, vocabulary and understanding.

Year 2 - Year 6

From Year 2 onwards, please listen to your child read aloud as often as possible and at least four times a week. This should be a relaxed and enjoyable experience aimed to promote a love of reading as well as the promotion of key skills - do choose from these focused reading questions to help check your child’s understanding.  

Phonics is a vital tool in becoming a fluent reader. Our SSP (Systematic Synthetic Phonics) program is Little Wandle. Each parent of children in Reception and Year 1 parents will be told about the new sounds or alternative graphemes we have been learning during the week in our weekly newsletter, as well as tricky words.  We will also provide guidance for any additional home learning to help consolidate these sounds and tricky words.  Flash cards are available to purchase for parents and we encourage you to do so, as this can really help consolidate learning and close any gaps.  

In Year 1 we inform parents weekly via our weekly parent email of the spelling words to practise at home but we do not 'test' in class.  We expect pupils to spell these common exception words correctly by the end of year 1.   

From Year 2 - Year 6 we set:

• Spelling on Spelling Shed. 
• Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling on Rollama.

We do not routinely test for spelling, but children will be challenged to use their spelling words in the following week’s writing.   

Year 1 & Year 2

For children to make progress in maths they must have a secure knowledge of number. In Year 1 and Year 2 children should spend 15 minutes, at least three days a week, on Numbots, which helps them to understand, recall and become fluent in mental addition and subtraction, so that they move from counting to calculating.

Year 3 - Year 6

Once children have a secure knowledge of number and are fluent in addition and subtraction, the focus becomes times tables and their knowledge of multiplication and division. Therefore, children should spend 15 minutes, at least three days a week, on Times Table Rockstars which will boost their fluency and recall in multiplication and division.

Homework is issued on a Friday and is due back on the following Thursday in order to enable families to choose times which prove convenient for its completion. Class teachers should contact parents of children who are repeatedly not completing their homework and remind them of the importance of completing it. In addition, as part of preparation for secondary school, children in Years 5 and 6 who do not complete their home learning may be sanctioned. 

Home Learning Club is an optional after-school program designed to provide children with a structured environment where they can work on their home learning, receive assistance if needed, and develop effective study habits. Teachers should not invite children to attend, instead informing Alex Roe about possible candidates. The club is supervised by Ruth Wogan and the purpose of the club is:.

• Completion of Home Learning: Children will have dedicated time to work on the home learning that their class teacher has given them, with guidance and support from an experienced teacher.
• Reinforcement of Learning: The club aims to reinforce the lessons learned in class by providing an opportunity for students to ask questions and seek clarification on any concepts they find challenging.
• Building Study Skills: The Home Learning Club will also focus on helping students develop effective study habits and time management skills that will benefit them throughout their academic journey.