Reading in the Early Years

Nursery

The focus is on developing children’s language and communication skills through the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. Early matching, categorising, describing and sorting activities within the Nursery environment are used to develop aural and visual discrimination skills needed for early reading.  

Books are shared daily in large and small groups and Talk 4 Writing is used to teach the children to learn chosen stories by heart. It is also used to expose the children to story language, which will help them when it comes to writing stories of their own.

Books are shared with the children daily and children are motivated to look at and talk about story and information books in their child initiated play by utilising books in all areas of the provision.

Using aspects of the Jolly Phonics programme and Read Write Inc phonics programme, letter sounds are taught from January, focusing on 10 at a time until the majority of the children know them all before moving onto the next 10. When the children recognise some of the sounds and are able to orally blend, they will take home a phonic reading book that enables them to practise what they are learning during the phonic sessions.

The children go to the school library weekly to choose a book that interests them, and each child will take home two library books every week to share at home with their families, over and over again.

Reception

As children progress into Reception, there is a continued emphasis from the first day of school of phonics teaching which will further support children’s understanding that letters represent sounds in spoken words which will support their reading. Read Write Inc is the phonic programme that is followed in Reception and small group guided reading sessions are started when the child is able to recognise the majority of the 26 letter sounds of the alphabet and is able to orally blend. During this time children are supported by a teacher to develop their speaking and reading skills and to promote positive reading and learning behaviours.

An interest in books is developed by sharing songs, stories and rhymes, fostering opportunities to talk and re-enact stories or follow children’s interests through information books. Books are shared with the children daily and children are motivated to look at and talk about story and information books in their child initiated play by utilising books in all areas of the provision.

Talk for Writing is also developed further in Reception with the children learning more actions and being taught other vocabulary associated with stories.

The children will take home a phonic book that matches the phonics they are being taught in school and the child is encouraged to read this independently. They will also take a home a library book which they can share with their family at home on a regular basis

Throughout child initiated learning time, children have the opportunity to explore books of their own interest in a quiet and inviting book area. Books are changed regularly based on the topic and the children’s interest. 

Important links

https://www.theschoolrun.com/what-are-phonics-phases

https://www.talk4writing.co.uk

www.jollylearning.co.uk

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/reading-schemes-oxford-levels/read-write-inc-phonics-guide/

www.pacey.org.uk/working-in-childcare/spotlight-on/literacy-in-the-early-years