Reading at Malvin’s Close
At Malvin’s Close, we are passionate about developing a lifelong love of reading in every child. Reading is central to our curriculum and is celebrated across the school, from our very youngest learners in Nursery right through to Year 6. We offer a rich and structured reading programme that supports early decoding, builds fluency and comprehension, and most importantly, fosters a love of stories, language and learning.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Nursery
In Nursery, we begin nurturing our children’s love for reading through daily story time led by the teacher and a language-rich environment. We use ‘Talk Through Stories’ (RWI) in small groups to enhance oral language and story comprehension.
Children take home a reading for pleasure book and have a reading record, which is checked and stamped weekly.
Within the classroom, children enjoy a carefully curated reading corner with fiction, non-fiction, traditional tales, core books and familiar favourites.
Reception
Reception children experience daily story time, read aloud by the teacher. We group children for Read Write Inc. (RWI) phonics and children are heard reading weekly by an adult. We use ‘Talk Through Stories’ as a whole-class session in small groups.
Reading materials to take home include a reading for pleasure book, phonics-based materials (such as sound sheets, blending books, Ditty sheets or Book Bag Books depending on the group) and a reading record.
In school, Teaching Assistants deliver tiered reading and phonics interventions, and children have daily access to a well-resourced reading area. RWI groups are streamed daily to ensure all children access phonics at the right level.
Key Stage 1 (KS1)
Year 1
Reading for pleasure is prioritised every day in Year 1. Each child is heard reading by their teacher weekly and takes home a phonics book matched to their current group, along with a reading for pleasure book and reading record.
TAs support learning through same-day phonics interventions, tiered reading programmes and targeted 1:1 tutoring (including use of RWI videos).
Daily streamed RWI sessions, phonics videos in the afternoon and a welcoming book corner support reading development throughout the day.
Year 2
Year 2 builds on phonics and begins to transition to Accelerated Reader (AR) for those children who have completed RWI. Children take home either a phonics book or an AR book within their ZPD, a reading for pleasure book and a reading record.
All children are heard reading weekly by their teacher and a TA. Reading for pleasure remains a key part of the day.
In-school support includes Lexia for SEND children (3x weekly), same-day phonics keep-up, tiered readers and a rich book area. Daily reading lessons are provided for children who are no longer accessing phonics.
Lower Key Stage 2 (LKS2)
Year 3
In Year 3, children continue to access AR and are encouraged to read regularly at school and home. They take home a ZPD-levelled AR book, a reading for pleasure book and a reading record.
Teachers hear every child read weekly, using diagnostic reports to tailor support. Reading for pleasure happens daily.
TAs deliver tiered reading interventions and Lexia for identified SEND children. Daily AR reading takes place in both morning and afternoon sessions.
Children enjoy reading lessons and a fortnightly book club on Friday afternoons.
Year 4
Year 4 follows the same structure as Year 3 with the addition of Reading Plus.
Children continue to engage in AR reading, take home a reading for pleasure book, and are supported by a structured reading curriculum. The teacher listens to each child read weekly and TAs support through targeted interventions and Lexia.
Book clubs run fortnightly and the classroom reading corners remain a valued resource for choice and exploration.
Upper Key Stage 2 (UKS2)
Year 5
Reading in Year 5 is a key driver for developing vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. Children take home an AR book (ZPD-matched), a reading for pleasure book, and a reading record.
They are heard reading weekly and enjoy daily reading for pleasure sessions.
TAs continue to support with Lexia (3x weekly) and reading interventions, while Reading Plus is accessed every day.
Reading lessons take place seven times each fortnight and all children are part of a fortnightly book club. Reading Buddies are also introduced in Year 5, where pupils read with younger children in Year 2 and Year 3 to build confidence and community.
Year 6
By Year 6, our pupils are confident and independent readers. Reading continues to be prioritised through daily Reading Plus sessions, daily reading for pleasure, and structured reading lessons.
Children are heard reading weekly and take home an AR book, a reading for pleasure book, and a reading record.
Targeted support is provided through tiered interventions and Lexia for SEND children.
As well as reading lessons and regular AR sessions, children attend a fortnightly book club and are invited to join our after-school ‘Books and Biscuits’ club, which offers a relaxed and supportive environment for discussing favourite reads.
Reading Culture at Malvin’s Close
Across all year groups, we strive to develop readers who are fluent, confident and enthusiastic. Our approach is a blend of structured phonics, targeted intervention, reading comprehension, and above all, a genuine love of books.
Every classroom has a dedicated book corner with a carefully selected range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and traditional tales. From story time in Nursery to critical text analysis in Year 6, we are committed to ensuring all pupils become lifelong readers.