Reading & Phonics
Intent
At Bellfield, we believe that reading is the key to unlocking learning, imagination, and opportunity. Our aim is for every child to become a confident, fluent reader who loves books and reads for pleasure. From the very start in EYFS, we nurture a love of stories, rhymes, and language, helping children develop the skills they need to read and enjoy books.
Strong phonics teaching provides the foundation for successful reading and writing, ensuring all children—including those with SEND—develop secure decoding skills. We want pupils to experience a wide range of high-quality texts from diverse authors, genres, and cultures, promoting curiosity, comprehension, and confidence so that every child sees themselves as a reader for life.
Implement
Reading and phonics are at the heart of our curriculum. In EYFS, children are immersed in stories, songs, and rhymes to build vocabulary and phonological awareness. Daily phonics sessions follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme, introducing sounds in a clear, structured sequence and revisiting them regularly to secure learning. Children practise blending and segmenting through interactive activities and apply their skills in fully decodable books matched to their phonics stage. As pupils progress through Key Stage 1 and beyond, we focus on fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking through guided reading, whole-class texts, and independent reading opportunities.
Reading is embedded across the curriculum and supported by inviting reading corners, a well-stocked library, and a library club that encourages reading for pleasure. We celebrate reading through exciting events such as World Book Day and author visits. For pupils who need extra support, including those with SEND, we provide targeted interventions using Little Wandle’s catch-up programme, adapted texts, and additional adult support. Regular assessment ensures gaps are identified quickly and addressed effectively.
Reading for Pleasure
We understand how important reading is here at Bellfield and that it does not only have a place during our whole class reading and phonics sessions.
At the end of our school day on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, our whole school takes part in our class reading for pleasure books. As well as this, we have created bespoke reading areas and sheds across our school and on our playground for our children; a place where they can choose a book and relax and enjoy their reading.
Reading Community
The school has many reading areas throughout the building. We have a KS1, Year 3/4 and a Year 5/6 reading area as well as a library. Children are encouraged to access these areas throughout breaks and lunchtimes to read to themselves, each other and adults. Each classroom also has their own bank of high quality, challenging books which children can access throughout the day in addition to their Terrific Texts. Community book swap boxes have also been placed throughout the grounds of the school where our parents and careers can take a book. We ask that parents and carers bring any old books they no longer want to ‘swap’.
Impact
By the end of EYFS, children will enjoy listening to stories and begin to blend sounds to read simple words. By the end of Key Stage 1, pupils will be fluent, confident readers who can decode accurately and read with understanding.
By the time they leave Bellfield, children will have a love of reading, the ability to use books for learning and enjoyment, and the skills needed to thrive in the next stage of education. All children—including those with SEND—will have the confidence and enthusiasm to see themselves as readers for life.
