Reading at Bromley Beacon Academy Bromley
Intent
Bromley Beacon Academy places great importance on reading since it is a vital skill for all students to learn. We promote independence and encourage all students to read for pleasure, both in school and at home. We recognise that everyone learns at different rates and that reading involves more than just decoding print on a page, it involves listening, questioning and understanding. Our main strategy for reading at Bromley Beacon Academy is to enhance fluency and accuracy in reading which will encourage confidence in reading.
We have many enrichment opportunities which give the students the experiences that further support their engagement with reading. There are 5 areas that reading helps with:
- Exercises & develops the brain
- Improves concentration
- Improves vocabulary & develops imagination
- Develops self-esteem & confidence
- Relaxes the body and calms the mind
Implementation
When students join the school, they are assessed for reading accuracy and reading comprehension. Assessment data is used to inform further assessments, teaching, planning and intervention as needed. They are also assessed for Visual Stress, to see if they would benefit from using a coloured overlay to improve their speed, accuracy or comfort when reading.
The school has a well stocked library with a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books, magazines, and reading resources to suit all abilities and interests. We are happy to purchase particular books for individual students upon request.
Students are able to take books & magazines home through our ‘Book Share Scheme’, and we recommend that students read for 20 minutes per day at home when possible. Support is available for parents and carers in supporting their reading at home. Parents/carers must sign up to this scheme; details are available from Amy Fitzgerald..
Reading for pleasure is the main message behind our reading here at Bromley. We use Accelerated reader, Myon and First news as some of the tools to promote reading. We also have DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) each Thursday afternoon during tutor time to support students with the routines of reading.
It is important that students understand that all reading is worthwhile and can help them on their journey to becoming successful in the future. To encourage reading for pleasure we have a wide range of resources and strategies to enable even the most reluctant readers so they grow in confidence.
Reading currently takes place during tutor group sessions throughout the week. Students needing more support with reading, on a 1:1 or small group basis, have timetabled access to reading intervention during these sessions with Reading Leaders and/or School Staff.
All reading makes a difference, but evidence suggests that reading for pleasure makes the most (Clark, C and De Zoysa, S. (2011)
