Phonics & Reading
At Sandford St. Martin's Primary, we believe that learning to read fluently and with understanding is fundamental to children's success in school and life. Reading opens doors to knowledge, imagination and opportunity, and we are committed to developing confident, enthusiastic and independent readers who develop a lifelong love of books.
We use Floppy's Phonics, a systematic synthetic phonics programme, to provide children with strong foundations in early reading. Through carefully sequenced teaching, children develop their knowledge of the relationship between sounds and letters, learning to decode words accurately and confidently. Regular opportunities to practise and apply these skills, alongside carefully matched decodable books, help children become increasingly fluent readers.
As children progress through the school, our approach to teaching reading is underpinned by research and six key pedagogical principles. We recognise that successful reading requires more than accurate decoding. Our carefully structured reading curriculum develops fluency, vocabulary, background knowledge and comprehension, whilst exposing children to a rich and varied diet of high-quality literature.
Reading lessons are progressively structured to meet children's developing needs. Through fluency reading, children develop accuracy, automaticity and expression; extended reading builds reading stamina and the ability to understand longer, connected texts; and close reading encourages deeper exploration of vocabulary, language and meaning. Explicit teaching, teacher modelling, purposeful discussion and repeated reading ensure that children develop the skills needed to become thoughtful, skilled and independent readers.
Above all, we aim to nurture a genuine love of reading. By introducing children to a diverse range of engaging fiction, non-fiction and poetry, we broaden their experiences, spark curiosity and develop empathy. We want every child to leave Sandford St. Martin's equipped with the skills, confidence and enthusiasm to enjoy reading throughout their lives.
Our Class Novels
At Sandford St. Martin's, we recognise the importance of reading aloud and the powerful role it plays in developing children's vocabulary, comprehension and love of literature. Teachers regularly share high-quality class novels, modelling fluent and expressive reading whilst providing opportunities for discussion, reflection and enjoyment.
Our carefully curated selection of class novels reflects our 'windows, mirrors and doors' approach to literature. We want children to see themselves and their own experiences reflected in the books they encounter, whilst also opening windows into different lives, cultures and perspectives. Through these shared reading experiences, children develop empathy, broaden their understanding of the world and discover the joy of reading.
The texts below have been carefully selected for our Key Stage 2 children to provide a rich and varied literary experience throughout their time at Sandford.