Reading…The Heart of Our Curriculum
Vision and Goals
Our vision is to create an environment where every learner can access and build a love of reading. We aim to:
- Deliver a positive environment and help the students to foster a love of reading, whichever way the student can digest the reading diet
- Develop learners’ reading skills from primary years through to secondary education
- Promote a love of reading and lifelong learning
- Ensure equitable access to high-quality reading materials and instruction
Framework and Principles
Many of our learners join Tulip Academy with a very negative experience of phonics teaching, often because they are unable to access the programmes due to their learning profile. We assess each learner’s needs on an individual basis. We have trained and experienced staff in our SSP programmes.
Early Literacy Development
Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP): Implement appropriate SSP programmes to teach phonics if suitable.
Language Comprehension: Focus on developing learners’ oral language skills through talk, stories, poetry, and rhymes.
Reading Fluency and Comprehension
Fluency: Develop reading fluency through progressive practices that emphasise speed and accuracy.
Comprehension: Use evidence-based strategies to enhance comprehension skills, including guided reading sessions and comprehension assessments.
Support for Struggling Readers
Intervention Programs: Provide targeted support for learners who need additional help with individualised targeted interventions.
Assessment and Monitoring: Regularly assess reading progress and adjust interventions as needed.
Reading for Pleasure
Promoting a Reading Culture: Encourage reading for pleasure through whole class reading, reading interventions and dedicated reading times.
Access to Books: Ensure learners have access to a diverse range of books, including decodable texts for early readers.
Reading Across the Curriculum
Integration: Integrate reading into all subjects, promoting literacy across the curriculum.
Text Selection: Carefully select texts that support curriculum goals and enhance learners’ understanding of various subjects.
Implementation and Monitoring
Professional Development
Provide ongoing training for teachers on effective reading instruction and the latest literacy research.
Encourage collaboration among educators to share best practices and resources.
Parental Involvement
Engage parents in their children’s literacy development through workshops, reading activities, and resources.
Provide guidance on how parents can support reading at home.
Evaluation and Review
Regularly review the effectiveness of literacy programs and adjust based on learner outcomes and feedback.
Use data from assessments to inform instructional practices and policy decisions.
Conclusion
Tulip Academy is dedicated to ensuring that every learner becomes a confident reader. By adhering to the principles outlined in this policy and the 2023 Reading Framework, we strive to create a supportive and enriching literacy environment for all learners.