The acquisition of literacy skills is a high priority at Cleaswell Hill.

The importance of the development of reading skills is reflected in the resources, time and training devoted to developing a reading culture. Pupils’ are actively encouraged to read at every opportunity, and to develop a love of books and reading.

Outside of lessons, additional reading takes place during tutor time and lunchtime reading club.

A wide range of quality texts are available, including those targeted at beginner, catch-up and reluctant readers, plus age-appropriate texts for older pupils with lower reading skills. We also provide books specifically aimed at those with visual disturbances such as dyslexia, and have a good stock of large-print, audiobooks and some braille books for pupils’ with visual impairment. We also ensure that different reading formats are available which include fact, fiction, comic books, magazines, newspapers, and picture books for early readers.

Our library facility is extensively used and pupils’ are consulted on the types of reading materials they would like to see in the library.

We have a calendar of reading events, including World Book Day and National Poetry Day to celebrate and enjoy reading.

In the classroom, we use Reading Plus software programme and Lexia intervention schemes for phonics based learning. Staff extensively trained in the delivery of synthetic phonics lead these.

We are happy to provide parents/carers with a recommended reading list for their child and ways to encourage good reading habits at home.