All About Reading
Reading for Pleasure
Reading is at the heart of everything we do at Kirton Primary School. We nurture a love of reading because we believe that when children enjoy reading, it opens the door to imagination, confidence and discovery. Through stories shared, books explored and dedicated time to read for pleasure, we support our children in becoming enthusiastic, confident readers with a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.
At Kirton Primary School, reading for pleasure means children choosing to read because it makes them smile, think, wonder or relax. It is about enjoying books and texts in a way that feels exciting and meaningful to them. This can include storybooks and picture books, comics and graphic novels, non-fiction linked to personal interests such as animals, sport or space, as well as poems, magazines and short texts. Every type of reading is valued, as each one helps children discover what they enjoy most.
We know that children who enjoy reading gain far more than just reading skills. Research shows that reading for pleasure helps children to develop a richer vocabulary and stronger language skills, improve comprehension, writing and communication, and build imagination, creativity and empathy. It also supports achievement across the whole curriculum and strengthens confidence and independence as learners. Most importantly, children who love reading are far more likely to continue reading throughout their lives — opening doors to learning, opportunity and enjoyment.
At Kirton Primary School, we place reading at the centre of school life. We create welcoming, well-stocked reading areas, provide a wide range of high-quality and diverse books, and give children time every day to read independently for enjoyment. We regularly share stories and read aloud, celebrate authors and favourite books, recognise reading achievements, and encourage children to talk about what they are reading and recommend books to their friends.
Reading Gallery
Reading at Home
Families play a vital role in helping children develop a love of reading. You can support your child by reading regularly together and chatting about stories and characters, allowing them to choose books and texts that interest them, and continuing to share stories even once they can read independently. Making reading part of everyday life — such as enjoying bedtime stories or visiting the library — and showing your child that you enjoy reading too can have a powerful impact.
Together, we can help every child at Kirton Primary School grow into a confident reader who reads for pleasure, curiosity and joy. We are passionate about developing a love of reading in every child and believe that strong home–school partnerships are key to success. Reading regularly at home makes a significant difference to children’s confidence, fluency and enjoyment, and we greatly value the support of our families in building positive reading habits. Listening to your child read, sharing stories and talking about books all help to strengthen comprehension and vocabulary. For practical guidance, tips and resources on how to support reading at home, please view the dedicated reading information page on our website.
Kirton Primary School - Reading at Home
Our Phonics Programme
At our school, we teach early reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, a validated Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) programme approved by the Department for Education.
Children take part in daily, structured phonics lessons where they learn to recognise sounds, link them to letters, blend to read and segment to spell. Lessons are carefully sequenced to build knowledge step by step, and regular assessment ensures that any child who needs extra support receives it quickly.
Reading books are fully decodable and matched to each child’s phonics knowledge, helping them to read with confidence and fluency. Our aim is for every child to become a successful, lifelong reader.
You can find out more about Phonics and Reading at Home here:
Kirton Primary School - Reading at Home
Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is a short, statutory assessment that takes place each June to assess children’s phonics knowledge and decoding skills. It is designed to confirm whether pupils are on track with their reading by asking them to read 40 words aloud, including a mix of real words and “alien” (nonsense) words that test their ability to apply phonics skills independently. The check is set by the Standards and Testing Agency on behalf of the Department for Education and is carried out in a calm, supportive, one-to-one setting in school. The assessment is not timed, and children are encouraged to approach it with confidence, seeing it as a chance to show how much they have learned. Parents are informed of their child’s result at the end of the academic year, and any children who do not meet the expected standard are supported and given the opportunity to retake the check in Year 2.
Phonics Screening Check Information Leaflet for Parents
You can view some previous Phonics Screening Checks here:
