Sunnyside Spencer Academy, Nottingham
“Reading is a high priority for the school. Pupils who are in the early stages of learning to read receive expert teaching through the school’s systematic approach to phonics. Pupils read from books that match the sounds they know. Those who need extra help, including pupils with SEND, are supported to catch up quickly. High-quality books and online resources are readily available to encourage a widespread love of reading.”
School Inspection: Outstanding in all areas
Previous Inspection: Good
Dunstall Hill Primary School, Wolverhampton
“Early reading is prioritised by the school. Pupils encounter a love of reading from an early age and also build their fluency through a well-organised approach to teaching phonics. The school’s systematic approach means that most pupils learn the sounds they need to be able to blend words and develop their reading skills. Where this is not the case, pupils receive additional support to help them become more confident, fluent readers.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Not previously inspected
Ossett Holy Trinity CofE VA Primary School, West Yorkshire
“Early reading and phonics are a strength in the school. Teachers use their strong subject knowledge to model new sounds effectively. They regularly check how well pupils understand their learning. If pupils fall behind, extra support is quickly provided to help them catch up. This is highly effective. Pupils read books that are closely matched to the phonics sounds they know.”
School Inspection: Good in all areas
Previous Inspection: Requires improvement
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Castleford
“Staff teach high-quality phonics lessons with consistency. Pupils at risk of falling behind in reading receive targeted help, which helps to close any gaps in phonics knowledge. Pupils are enthusiastic about reading and demonstrate increasing accuracy in applying their skills to read unfamiliar words.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good
Wistaston Academy, Cheshire
“The school prioritises reading and pupils’ vocabulary development. Children in the early years are immersed in a language-rich environment (…) Staff deliver the phonics programme expertly and with fidelity (…) This enables pupils to read fluently and accurately. Nearly all pupils in Year 1 achieve highly in the phonics screening check.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Not previously inspected
Wyndcliffe Primary School, Birmingham
“A love of reading is evident across the school. Reading is prioritised from the moment children start school in early years. There is a strong focus on developing children’s communication and language. Pupils get regular opportunities to practise and consolidate their phonics knowledge. Staff use assessment well to check pupils’ phonics progress. Developing pupils’ oracy is a high priority. This is evident throughout the school where there is a focus on building pupils’ vocabulary. Pupils develop their reading skills and fluency as they move through the school. Everyone is a reader at Wyndcliffe.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Good
Northern House Academy, Oxford
“Helping pupils develop a love of stories and books is a priority. The school has implemented a systematic approach to teach pupils to read. Pupils enjoy the skilfully adapted lessons that help them develop their reading confidence and fluency. Their resilience shines through when they read with adults and work hard to blend and segment using the methods they have been taught.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Not previously inspected
Euxton Primrose Hill Primary School, Lancashire
“Staff deliver phonics sessions expertly across the early years and key stage 1. […] Staff provide highly effective extra support for those pupils who find reading more difficult. As a result, pupils read fluently and accurately by the end of Year 2.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding
Community & Hospital Education Service AP Academy, Truro
“The school has prioritised reading across the three sites and the different ways in which pupils access their learning. This ensures that pupils have the knowledge that they need to learn the curriculum in all subject areas. The very small number of pupils at the earliest stages of reading get the help they need to become confident and fluent readers. […] Texts are carefully chosen to spark interest and debate and promote extensive awareness of the diverse world around them.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding
North Cornwall Alternative Provision Academy, Cornwall
“The school prioritises reading across all areas of the curriculum. Pupils who are at the early stages of reading get the phonics provision they need. As a result, they become increasingly confident and fluent readers. Accurate assessment across all subjects in the curriculum ensures that gaps in learning are identified and addressed quickly. Teachers have the subject knowledge needed to do this effectively. […] There is a focus on improving pupils’ view of reading for pleasure which is proving successful.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good