Reading
At The Limes primary academy, we want children to love to read and to enjoy reading for pleasure.
Teaching children to read and write accurately, fluently, and confidently is key.
In the words of Dr Seuss- "the more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places, you'll go"
Therefore, we ensure reading is central to our curriculum and we put every effort into making sure that children develop a love of books as well as simply learning to read.
We encourage children to engage with texts for pleasure through:
- Weekly visits to our school Tree house library space
- Access to the school library during social times
- An outdoor reading shed on the playground
- Daily reading for pleasure time
- Class novel time
- Half termly story cafes
- Use of accelerated reader
Our Treehouse library
Our reading for pleasure Tree house library is the perfect place to sit down and enjoy a good book! Children can share books with their friends in the tree house or sit quietly on a toadstool whilst their imaginations run wild.
As a school we continuously invest in new books and ensure that all books pupils explore; when reading for pleasure or to further develop their reading attainment and fluency, are of a high quality.
Read 3
At The Limes, we expect children to read at least 3 times a week.
Why?
- Reading is fun!
- Reading is a great way to spend time together
- Reading exercises the brain and improves concentration
- Reading improves vocabulary skills
- Reading develops a child's imagination and teaches them about the world around them
- Children who read achieve better in school.
Reading rewards
The class with the most readers each week receives a bonus playtime!
In addition to this, pupils are rewarded for engaging with reading both at home and in school, class teachers select a 'Reader of the week'. These pupils receive a certificate and golden token in their Key Stage celebration assembly! The golden token can then be spent in our book vending machine!
Where daily reading at home is logged on Boom Reader, pupils will also receive a class dojo point.
Logging pupil reads
All reading is logged on Boom Reader - a digital reading library that is always with you! Parent and carers can access pupil reading logs at all times via the mobile app. Please see you child's class teacher for parent log-in details.
https://www.boomreader.co.uk/parentsÂ
Don’t forget to log into your child’s Boom Reader account where you will be able to view your child’s recent reading in school and log any reading you have completed at home.Phonics
At The Limes Primary Academy, we teach phonics through Read, Write Inc.
At our school, we use Read Write Inc. (RWI) Phonics, a nationally recognised literacy programme developed by Dame Ruth Miskin and used in thousands of schools across the UK. It is a systematic and engaging approach that teaches children to read, write and communicate confidently from the very start of their educational journey.
What is Read Write Inc.?
Read Write Inc. is a systematic synthetic phonics programme that teaches children the relationship between letters and sounds, helping them to decode words quickly and accurately. Children learn sounds in a carefully planned sequence and practise blending sounds together to read words, while also developing spelling and writing skills. The programme integrates reading, writing, speaking and listening, ensuring that all aspects of literacy develop together.
Children read fully decodable books that are closely matched to the sounds they have been taught during their phonics lessons. This allows them to experience success from the beginning and build confidence as readers.
Why is Read Write Inc. successful?
Read Write Inc. has a strong track record of improving reading outcomes because it provides:
- A clear, structured progression of phonics knowledge and skills.
- Regular assessment to ensure teaching is matched to each child's stage of development.
- Targeted teaching groups that enable every child to learn at an appropriate level and make rapid progress.
- Consistent approaches and routines that help children become confident and independent learners.
- Opportunities for additional support so that no child is left behind.
- All adults who teach phonics at The Limes have had explicit RWI training with consultant and development days and in house continual professional development.
The programme's carefully sequenced lessons, high-quality resources and emphasis on teacher training help ensure that children develop strong foundations in literacy.
How does Read Write Inc. engage young readers?
Read Write Inc. lessons are fast-paced, interactive and enjoyable. Children participate actively by:
- Learning and revisiting sounds through engaging routines.
- Working with partners to practise speaking and reading aloud.
- Reading exciting fiction and non-fiction texts that match their phonics knowledge.
- Celebrating their success as they quickly move from sounding out words to reading with increasing fluency and expression.
Because children are reading books they can successfully decode, they develop confidence, motivation and a positive attitude towards reading from an early age.
Linking phonics to the joy of reading
At the heart of Read Write Inc. is the belief that phonics is the gateway to a lifelong love of reading. By giving children, the skills to decode words independently, the programme removes barriers to reading and allows children to focus on meaning, enjoyment and understanding. As children's fluency develops, they become increasingly able to immerse themselves in stories, explore new ideas and experience the pleasure that reading brings.
Our aim is not only for children to learn how to read, but to become enthusiastic, confident readers who choose to read for pleasure. At The Limes and through Read Write Inc., we nurture children's curiosity, imagination and love of books, helping them to develop the literacy skills that will support them throughout their lives.
Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
The Phonics Screening Check is a short government based assessment that takes place in Year 1 to help teachers understand how well children are learning to use their phonics knowledge to read words independently.
During the check, children are asked to read 40 words aloud to a familiar adult. Some of these are real words and some are nonsense (alien) words, which are used to assess whether children can apply their phonics skills rather than relying on memory.
The check is designed to be relaxed and child-friendly, and most children enjoy taking part. It is carried out on a one-to-one basis and usually takes only a few minutes to complete.
At school, children are prepared through their daily phonics lessons. The aim is not to cause pressure, but to identify any children who may need additional support with reading. Parents will receive their child's result at the end of the school year. In 2025 the pass mark was 32/40, and in 2026 it was 31/40, if your child scores below this they will be assessed again in Year 2.
By continuing to read regularly at home, practising phonics sounds and enjoying books together, parents can play a vital role in helping their child develop confidence and success in reading.
How to say pure sounds, please click the link below.
To find out more about how Phonics work, please click the link below.
To visit the Read Write Inc. website please click the link