The Power of Reading at Eckington

Strong foundations, strong futures — rooted in our Christian vision

At Eckington First School, we believe that learning to read is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. Reading opens doors to knowledge, imagination and opportunity, enabling every child to flourish. Rooted in our Christian vision, “Rivers of living water will flow from within”, we nurture confident, curious and joyful readers whose words, ideas and stories can enrich both themselves and others.

To ensure every child makes rapid progress in early reading, we begin teaching phonics as soon as children join us in Nursery and Reception. We use Bug Club Phonics, a DfE‑validated systematic synthetic phonics programme that helps children build secure knowledge of the alphabetic code and become fluent, independent readers. We believe that every child can learn to read, and their success depends on two key skills: speedy decoding of unfamiliar words and automatic recognition of familiar words. Through our consistent, rigorous approach, all teachers hold the highest expectations that children will become proficient readers by the end of Key Stage 1 — giving them the strong start they need to thrive as lifelong readers.

Strong Starts: Early Reading & Phonics

Building firm foundations so every child can flourish

Early reading is taught with ambition, consistency and care. We follow Bug Club Phonics, a DfE‑validated systematic synthetic phonics programme that gives children the strongest possible start.

• Daily phonics from Nursery to Year 1

• Carefully sequenced lessons that build confidence

• Fast-paced, engaging teaching

• Daily review and retrieval to secure automaticity

In Nursery, children explore rhyme, rhythm, listening games and oral blending. In Reception and Year 1, children follow the full Bug Club progression, learning new sounds (GPCs) and applying them in reading and writing.

This strong start reflects our Christian vision, helping every child to grow, flourish and flow with confidence as a reader.

Little Readers, Big Steps: Guided Reading & Decodable Books

Helping children grow into fluent, confident readers

Daily Guided Reading (KS1)

Children experience reading teaching as a whole class. They explore fiction, non-fiction and poetry while developing:

• decoding and fluency

• vocabulary

• comprehension

• confidence discussing ideas

Guided Reading in EYFS

In Reception, Guided Reading begins in the summer term, once children are secure in early blending.

Decodable Books Matched to Phonics Phase

Children take home fully decodable Bug Club books matched precisely to their phonics stage. This ensures:

• fidelity to our SSP

• success and confidence

• opportunities to practise taught GPCs

• strong home–school reading routines

Children who are not yet decoding independently take part in short blending sessions.

Daily Class Novel

Every class enjoys a timetabled daily read‑aloud from a high‑quality class novel, building vocabulary, imagination and a shared love of stories.

Whole Class Reading: Shared Stories, Shared Thinking

Reading together, thinking together, growing together

Whole Class Reading in KS1

In Key Stage 1, children experience reading as a shared, joyful journey. They explore a wide range of fiction, non‑fiction and poetry, developing:

• decoding and fluency

• rich vocabulary

• comprehension skills

• confidence discussing characters, themes and ideas

Children also enjoy being read to by an adult and encounter texts that are slightly more challenging, broadening their exposure to new genres and ambitious vocabulary.

Whole Class Reading in KS2

Whole Class Reading continues into Key Stage 2, where children study a rich, carefully chosen class text in depth. They learn to:

• establish meaning

• analyse meaning

• explore themes, structure and authorial choices

Texts are selected to challenge all learners, build cultural capital and deepen understanding across the curriculum.

Reading Corners

Every classroom includes a cosy, inviting reading area with cushions, blankets, soft toys, puppets and high‑quality books, creating a space where children can relax, explore and enjoy reading for pleasure. These spaces reflect our belief that reading should feel warm, welcoming and full of possibility.

 Keeping Up, Not Catching Up: Assessment & Support

Every child supported, every child seen, every child valued

We use ongoing assessment to ensure every child keeps up with the pace of learning and receives the right support at the right time. Our approach is proactive, helping children stay on track rather than needing to catch up later.

We use:

• daily formative assessment

• half‑termly phonics assessments

• books matched precisely to each child’s phonic phase

• fidelity to Bug Club Phonics across all reading materials

Children who need additional support take part in targeted intervention sessions that are short, focused and responsive to need. These sessions help children secure key phonics knowledge, build fluency and develop confidence.

In Year 2, pupils who need further support to meet the Phonics Screening Check standard receive additional intervention sessions, delivered alongside their current phonics and spelling teaching so they do not miss new learning.

If childrn still need support with decoding, we provide structured, age‑appropriate catch‑up sessions to ensure they master the alphabetic code.

This reflects our commitment to ensuring that no child slips behind. Every child is supported, every child is valued, and every child is given the opportunity to flourish as a reader.

Phonics Screening Check

Ensuring every child keeps up and flourishes

All Year 1 children take the Phonics Screening Check in the summer term. This assessment helps us confirm that children have secured the essential decoding skills needed to become confident, fluent readers.

Children who do not meet the expected standard receive targeted, timely support through daily keep‑up sessions. These children then re‑sit the check in Year 2, ensuring they have every opportunity to master the phonics knowledge they need.

This approach reflects our commitment to ensuring that no child slips behind. Rooted in our Christian vision, “Rivers of living water will flow from within”, we support every child to grow, flourish and succeed as a reader.

The Importance of Oracy at Eckington

Confident speakers, thoughtful listeners, flourishing communicators

At Eckington First School, we believe that spoken language is the foundation of learning. Oracy underpins reading, writing, vocabulary development and children’s ability to think, reason and express themselves with clarity. Rooted in our Christian vision, “Rivers of living water will flow from within”, we nurture children who can communicate confidently, listen respectfully and share their ideas with purpose and pride.

Oracy is not an add‑on — it is a vital part of how our children learn, understand and flourish. Strong oracy skills help children to:

• articulate their thoughts clearly

• build rich, ambitious vocabulary

• rehearse language before writing

• deepen comprehension during reading

• reason, justify and explain their ideas

• collaborate and listen actively

• develop confidence and self‑belief

We use consistent oracy routines across the school, including talk partners, sentence stems, structured discussions and vocabulary exploration. These routines support children to become articulate, reflective and confident communicators who can express themselves with clarity — in the classroom, across the curriculum and in the wider world.

Oracy empowers our children to find their voice, share their ideas and flourish as individuals — just as our vision calls them to.

 Joyful Reading at Eckington

Creating readers who love stories, language and imagination

We want every child to see themselves as a reader and to experience the joy, comfort and adventure that reading brings. Reading is woven through daily life at Eckington, creating a culture where stories flow, imaginations grow and children flourish.

Our reading culture includes:

• Daily storytime

• Inviting book corners

• A welcoming school library

• Author of the Month

• Reading challenges

• Poetry and performance within lessons

• High‑quality texts across the curriculum

Reading is celebrated, shared and enjoyed throughout our school, helping every child to grow as a confident, enthusiastic and lifelong reader.

Reading Together: Support for Families

Working in partnership to help every child flourish

We know that children make the best progress when school and home work together. The DfE’s Reading Framework highlights the importance of families receiving clear, consistent guidance on how to support early reading — and we are committed to making this partnership strong, simple and successful.

We support families to feel confident in helping their child learn to read through:

• phonics workshops

• information videos

• guidance on correct pronunciation of sounds

• advice on reading at home

• regular communication about reading progress

• clear messages about decoding and reading routines, in line with DfE expectations

In EYFS, weekly phonics home learning is uploaded to TEAMS, including:

• the sounds taught that week

• pronunciation guidance

• short videos to support parents

• activities to reinforce learning at home

Children take home fully decodable Bug Club books matched to their phonics phase so they can practise with success and celebrate their growing confidence. This aligns with DfE guidance that children should read books containing only the GPCs they have been taught, ensuring reading at home is successful, accurate and enjoyable.

Together, we build strong reading habits that help every child flourish.

Our Promise

Helping every child flourish as a reader

Through high‑quality teaching, a rich reading culture and a curriculum rooted in our Christian vision, we empower children to become articulate, thoughtful and confident readers. We want their words — like rivers of living water — to flow, flourish and make a positive difference in the world.

Our promise is simple:

Every child will be supported, challenged and inspired to become a reader who loves stories, understands the world and finds their voice. We are committed to ensuring that:

• every child receives the right teaching at the right time

• no child is left behind or left to struggle alone

• reading is a source of joy, curiosity and connection

• children encounter books that broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding

• reading is woven through the life of the school, shaping confident, compassionate learners

Rooted in our Christian vision, “Rivers of living water will flow from within”, we believe that every child has the potential to flourish. Through reading, we help them discover who they are, what they can become and how their voice can enrich the world.

Books for Primary School Children

High‑quality stories to inspire, comfort and spark imagination

Choosing the right book can make all the difference. Below are trusted, up‑to‑date sources of recommended reads for primary‑aged children, including picture books, chapter books, poetry and non‑fiction. These lists are curated by literacy experts and updated regularly.

Books for Topics – Year Group Booklists

Teacher‑curated lists for every year group, plus themed lists such as wellbeing, diversity, history and science. Website: booksfortopics.com

National Literacy Trust – Recommended Reads

High‑quality booklists to support reading for pleasure, including reluctant readers, wellbeing and diversity. Website: literacytrust.org.uk

BookTrust – Best Books for Children

Trusted national charity offering booklists by age, theme and interest, including emotional wellbeing and bedtime stories. Website: booktrust.org.uk

CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education)

Inclusive, high‑quality texts selected by literacy specialists. Website: clpe.org.uk 

EmpathyLab – Read for Empathy Collections

Annual collections chosen to help children understand feelings, build empathy and develop emotional literacy. Website: empathylab.uk

World Book Day

Some of our World Book Day celebrations.