Boney Hay Primary Academy, Staffordshire
“A love of reading is promoted across the school. Attractive libraries, with displays showing which books the teachers are currently reading, encourage pupils to pick up a book. Their reading journey begins in the Reception class, where children benefit from the carefully structured phonics scheme. This is taught consistently well and children achieve well. Those who need help to keep up are supported effectively in additional, targeted, sessions.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good
John Shelton Community Primary School, Coventry
“Reading is a high priority […] Staff identify those pupils who need more practice. These pupils are given timely support to help them keep up. Pupils read books that match their stage of reading. This helps them practise using their phonics knowledge to become confident, fluent readers. Pupils’ enthusiasm for reading continues as they move through the school.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good
The Clare School, Norwich
“A small number of pupils learn to read by using phonics. Pupils who follow the schools’ early reading programme learn this extremely well. This is because adults are expert in teaching phonics. They check with care that pupils have a grasp of a particular sound before moving on. Those with visual or hearing impairments learn phonics if they can. This is because staff are adept at making the necessary adaptation to the phonics programme to meet the individual needs of these pupils. Pupils develop a love of books, as they hear a range of stories, rhymes and songs.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding
Beckfoot Allerton Primary School and Nursery, Bradford
“The school’s ambitious and rigorous approach to the teaching of reading ensures that pupils become successful, fluent readers. Staff quickly identify pupils who struggle or slip behind. They receive expert, focused support to keep up. Older pupils become enthusiastic readers through exposure to, and discussion about, exciting books and texts.”
School Inspection: Good in two areas, Outstanding in three areas
Previous Inspection: Requires improvement
Westclyst Community Primary School, Exeter
“Reading is at the heart of the school’s curriculum. The trust has identified the essential books it wants pupils to read. Children learn to love to read books from the time they start school. In the early years, the high expectations of staff mean that children build the skills to listen intently to the stories adults read to them. The phonics programme is implemented to a high standard. Staff are adept at checking children’s understanding. They provide swift and effective support for any pupils who need extra support. As a result, pupils are fluent readers.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Not previously inspected
Langland Community School, Milton Keynes
“Teachers are highly skilled and knowledgeable. They provide effective activities, which help pupils to build knowledge over time. This is most evident in the teaching of phonics, where staff expertly teach pupils how to read. In all areas of the curriculum, including phonics, staff regularly check how well pupils are learning. They put in place effective extra activities to help those who are falling behind. As a result, pupils are confident readers and have secure knowledge of the wider curriculum.”
School Inspection: Good in four areas, Outstanding in Personal Development
Previous Inspection: Not previously inspected
St Nicolas & St Mary C of E Primary School, Shoreham-by-sea
“The strong reading culture is the bedrock of the school. Pupils become extremely confident and skilled readers. Staff across the school are confident in teaching phonics. Their strong subject knowledge ensures that lessons are sharply focused on learning how to read accurately. A love of reading permeates through the whole school. This starts with the youngest children in early years, who enjoy their story times and comfortable reading areas. Across the school, books and text extracts are chosen with care, which means that pupils experience a broad range of genres.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good
Montgomery Primary Academy, Birmingham
“Right from the start, phonics lessons follow a well-structured programme […] Its approach to reading ensures a strong focus on pupils understanding what has been read and developing a rich vocabulary. This helps them to enjoy a wide range of texts. These books come to life when pupils take part in meeting authors and making visits to the theatre. Pupils learn to read well, fluently and with enjoyment. The school truly fosters a love of reading.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Good
Brackenhill Primary School, Bradford
“The phonics programme is led well. Staff have all received training to ensure they teach phonics consistently. They provide extra help for pupils who fall behind so that they can catch up with their peers. Pupils who speak English as an additional language are also provided with intensive support. There are attractive reading areas in classrooms and the school encourages pupils to read often.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good
Holmer CofE Academy, Hereford
“The school’s phonics curriculum is well organised and effectively taught. Children begin learning to read and write as soon as they start in Reception, and almost all pupils are fluent readers by the end of Year 1. Teachers quickly identify children who begin to struggle and work determinedly to help them keep up.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding