Reading

At Longmoor, reading is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that a love of reading opens doors to lifelong learning, creativity, and confidence. Our structured approach ensures that every child becomes a fluent, enthusiastic reader, ready to engage with the world.

Vision for Reading at Longmoor

Reading is the foundation of learning at Longmoor. We aim to develop confident, fluent readers who not only read with purpose but also for pleasure. Our approach is rooted in:

• Word Reading – Building strong phonics knowledge to develop decoding and fluency.
• Comprehension – Encouraging children to engage critically with texts, understand meaning, and develop a lifelong love of reading.

By the time our pupils leave Longmoor, they are ready to read with confidence in any subject, setting them up for success in secondary school and beyond.

How have we designed our Reading curriculum?

Early Reading & Phonics (EYFS – Year 2)

Our youngest children begin their reading journey with Read Write Inc., a structured phonics programme that helps them decode words with confidence. Through fun and engaging lessons, they:

• Learn phonemes and graphemes systematically.
• Develop fluency through sounding out words and reading age-appropriate books.
• Enhance comprehension by discussing stories and answering questions.

By the end of Year 1, children are secure in their phonics knowledge, enabling them to transition to deeper comprehension work in Year 2 and beyond.

Developing Comprehension & Fluency (Year 2 – Year 6)

From Year 2, our pupils progress to Pathways to Read, a structured programme that strengthens fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension through high-quality texts. This approach helps children:

• Read with fluency and confidence.
• Understand and discuss a wide range of texts.
• Develop skills in retrieval, inference, summarising, and analysis.

Our carefully planned curriculum ensures that by Year 6, children are independent, analytical readers, ready for the challenges of secondary school.

A School that Loves Reading

We want every child to develop a passion for reading! At Longmoor, we create a rich reading environment through:

• Classroom Reading Areas – Every class has a cosy, well-stocked reading corner filled with diverse and engaging books.
• Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) – Dedicated time for children to enjoy independent reading every day.
• Story Time – Teachers bring books to life with expressive and engaging storytelling.
• Snuggle Up and Read Events – Fun sessions where families can share the joy of reading together.

Our goal is to ensure that reading is not just a school activity but a lifelong pleasure.

Supporting Every Child

We understand that every child’s reading journey is unique, which is why we provide targeted support where needed.

• Fast Track Phonics – Daily short-burst phonics interventions for children needing extra help.
• Daily Readers (KS2) – One-to-one reading support for children who need to build fluency.
• Pre-Teaching of Vocabulary – Helping children understand tricky words before reading a new text.
• SEND Support – Providing audio books, coloured overlays, and scaffolded tasks for children with additional needs.

These tailored adaptations ensure that every child becomes a confident, successful reader.

How is Reading assessed?

At Longmoor, we use ongoing assessment to track every child’s reading progress and make sure they get the support they need.

• Phonics Checks (EYFS & KS1) – Regular assessments ensure children are developing strong decoding skills.
• Comprehension Tracking (KS2) – We assess vocabulary, retrieval, inference, and fluency to monitor progress.
• One-to-One Reading Checks – Teachers regularly read with children to provide personalised support and challenge.

This structured approach ensures that no child is left behind and every pupil is reading at their full potential.