At Leedon, we place reading at the heart of our curriculum because we know it unlocks learning across every subject. We want every child to become a fluent, confident and motivated reader who can decode accurately, read with expression and understanding, and enjoy books as a source of pleasure as well as knowledge. 

Our Reading and Poetry Spines provide every year group with a carefully curated selection of high-quality texts and poems, ensuring that children encounter an inclusive, broad and diverse range of literature throughout their time at Leedon. These texts are revisited, performed and enjoyed across the year, deepening vocabulary and fostering an enduring love of reading.

We teach whole class reading through Take One Book. This is taught four times a week for around 45 minutes, using high-quality texts to expose pupils to ambitious vocabulary, varied sentence structures and diverse genres. Lessons focus on developing fluency, comprehension and discussion skills, with adults modelling expressive reading and pupils practising echo, choral and repeated reading. Comprehension is taught explicitly, with questioning designed to deepen understanding and broaden children’s appreciation of literature.

 

Our school library is a welcoming space which is open after school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so children and families can borrow books together. Each class also has a weekly 30-minute library session, where pupils learn how to borrow and return books, explore new authors and enjoy a story read aloud.

Every classroom also has an inviting library (or book corner), stocked with carefully chosen texts that link to learning and children’s interests. 

Every child at Leedon reads every day in a variety of contexts. Every child also has the opportunity to listen to a story being read every day. Each class has dedicated story time timetabled every day, where teachers read aloud high-quality texts simply for enjoyment.

We also run Jackanory Club, held in the library every Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime, where children are invited to come and listen to stories being shared in a relaxed, cosy setting.

Alongside this, pupils enjoy weekly classroom Book Clubs, regular access to our well-stocked school and class libraries, and opportunities to revisit favourite texts from our Reading and Poetry Spines. By surrounding children with rich reading experiences and plenty of opportunities to enjoy books socially and independently, we aim to nurture lifelong readers who see reading as something to cherish.