Read Read Read

At Wadsworth Fields, children in Nursery, Elm, Holly, Maple and Pine Class have daily phonics sessions as they begin their reading journey.

In Key Stage 2, children have daily reading lessons which will either be a fluency read, extended read or a close read.

Every class enjoys regular story time, this is where high-quality literature is shared with the children and the focus is on enjoyment.

At Wadsworth Fields, we want to foster a love and appreciation of reading by listening to and interacting with a variety of literature, non-fiction and poetry. Within our library, children have access to high-quality books which reflect the diversity of our modern world. For each phase, we have created a recommended reading list based on these high-quality and engaging texts, to support the children’s choices of books to read. All of these books are available in the library, unless a like-minded person has borrowed the book first. If you can’t find what you are looking for, please let Mrs Porter know.

Regardless of whether a child’s reading material of choice is a novel or magazine, children who read for pleasure achieve better. A child who reads for 5 minutes a day, will be exposed to around 400 000 words a year, increasing that to 20 minutes exposes them to 1 823 000 words a year, and 40 minutes results in 3 646 000 words a year. Parents have an important role to play in developing a love of reading.

Research indicates that reading at home significantly enhances children’s language, comprehension and literacy skills, fostering a strong foundation for academic success and a lifelong love of reading. There are many benefits of reading at home:

Exposure to books at home creates a “million-word gap” for children who are read to, leading to better language skills and wider vocabulary.

Children develop stronger reading comprehension and are more likely to achieve better academically when they read regularly at home.

Reading helps improve focus, concentration and memory by providing a single point of focus in a world of constant digital distractions.

Engaging with stories can foster empathy and provides a healthy way to manage stress, offering an escape from daily pressures.

A routine of reading at home can lead to healthier habits, including a better bedtime routine and a positive outlook on reading that extends into adulthood.