Intent:

Developing the technical skills and a passion for reading lies at the heart of our curriculum at Bishop Hooper. Our aim is to enable and encourage our pupils to become life-long readers as we believe reading is key for academic success.

Implementation:

• Children take part in daily Guided Reading lessons, where they are exposed to a variety of different texts and genre. They learn to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge through direct questioning and inference and are encouraged to express thoughts and ideas through discussion.
• Our excellent library is well stocked with a wide range of texts ranging from the classics, to popular modern authors. Our School Council regularly feed back pupils' requests for new books and each class is asked termly, if they have any new authors or particular favourites they would like added, which our Governors and Friends of Bishop Hooper School have generously funded.
• Each classroom has a selection of books that are related to each topic taught. This offers pupils the opportunity to explore and apply their reading skills across the curriculum.
• We use the Fischer Family Trust 'Success for all' DfE approved phonics programme for our beginner readers. This feeds seamlessly into our existing Bug Club stock of levelled books which support our readers from Reception to Year 6.
• All children take home a reading book to share with family members. These books are changed as needed and level of challenge is monitored carefully by each class teacher. Independence is encouraged as the children become able to change their own books. All our books follow coloured band levelling and range from picture only lilac labelled books, to the most challenging level books with black labels.
• All our new Reception starters begin their reading journey by sharing their 'Sound Pots' with their families alongside a picture or early phonics book.
• Children have the opportunity to mix with children from other children from different year groups to share the joy of reading for pleasure.
• Children in Key Stage 2 who are continuing to consolidate reading skills are given intervention sessions using 'Success for All' or 'Toe by Toe' and 1:1 reading with a teacher, Teaching Assistant or volunteer.
• Children are encouraged to engage in reading and become excited by books through regular Book fairs and Book Days.
• Our library is in constant use with children of all ages having access to borrowing books of their choice. Our Class 4 pupils take on librarian duties and are adept at recommending good reads, putting new books on the library system, and keeping everything tidy.
• Our borrowing figures are continuously rising. It is particularly pleasing to see our KS2 boys borrowing figures rising and the enthusiasm for books and reading increasing in this age group.
• All children are read to at the end of the day by their class teacher. 
• Parent questionnaire results confirm that reading is well taught at Bishop Hooper and that enthusiasm for reading is encouraged by all teachers.

Impact:

By the time the children leave Bishop Hooper, they are competent readers with the skills to take part in discussions about books, explain preferences, make recommendations, evaluate an author's use of language and the impact this can have on the reader, and have a thirst for reading a range of genre. They can read books for research to enhance their learning and knowledge and understanding of all subjects on the curriculum, and can communicate their research to a wide audience.