“The teaching of reading is central to the school. From the early years, there is a sharp focus on ensuring that pupils learn to read well. Staff are well trained to teach phonics. They follow the school’s phonics programme meticulously. […] This helps to make them confident, fluent readers. Older pupils show a love of reading. They talk about different books which they have studied in class, including classics and books to develop their understanding of diversity.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

“The school prioritises reading. […] Phonics is taught with careful precision and enthusiasm by staff. Pupils confidently apply their phonics knowledge when reading. […] Pupils develop a love of reading from the start.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

“The school prioritises early reading. Children in the early years get off to a great start. […] They read books that match the sounds they know, which enables them to practise becoming accurate and fluent readers.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Requires Improvement

“Reading is at the heart of the curriculum. The school ensures that pupils read a broad range of books during lessons and individual reading time. […] The phonics programme is delivered effectively by skilled staff. Pupils read from books that contain the sounds that they have already learned. The school provides additional practice for pupils who need it.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

“The school prioritises reading. Staff are all trained to deliver the systematic phonics programme. Staff use consistent methods to model to pupils how to blend sounds together to decode new words. Extra help is in place, if needed, to support some pupils to keep up with the phonics programme.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

“A passion for literature and a culture for reading are apparent throughout the school. […] Well-trained staff deliver the phonics curriculum skilfully. Pupils learn phonics in a systematic way, with plenty of opportunities for them to repeat their learning. This helps pupils to remember their phonics, which in turn supports their early reading.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

“Pupils benefit from high-quality phonics lessons taught by expert staff. […] pupils achieve exceedingly well in phonics lessons. A genuine love of reading and books is evident across the school. Pupils talk with joy about a wide range of different texts that they have read.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

“The school prioritises reading. Children begin learning phonics from the moment they start in the Reception class. The school ensures that staff have the knowledge and
expertise to teach the phonics curriculum well. Pupils, including those with SEND, progress successfully through the phonics programme, confidently applying their phonics knowledge when they write.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

“Staff receive excellent training to deliver the phonics programme expertly. Pupils therefore learn the sounds that letters make securely. There is a comprehensive catch-up programme to ensure that all pupils become fluent readers. The school ensures that pupils are exposed to a diverse range of books during their time at the school, including modern classics and Shakespearean sonnets.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

“A love of reading permeates the school. […] Staff have a strong understanding of the early reading curriculum, and they deliver the phonics programme with considerable flair and expertise.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

“Leaders have promoted a positive reading culture that begins in the early years. Staff are experts in enabling pupils to learn new sounds. As a result, children learn to read and write sounds rapidly and accurately.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

“Learning to read and becoming a fluent reader are absolute priorities for the school. Staff are trained as expert teachers of reading. […] Pupils show a genuine love of reading and of books. They talk with joy about a wide range of different texts.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

“The school places reading at the heart of all learning. […] In the Reception Year, there is a sharp focus on ensuring that children start learning the phonics code straight away. They quickly gain the necessary knowledge to read books that match the sounds that they know.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: N/A

“Reading is at the heart of the school. […] The teaching of early reading skills is a strength of the school. Pupils who need support receive it quickly. Pupils love reading and make good progress in their phonics learning.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Requires Improvement

“Staff are experts at teaching phonics. Pupils, including those with SEND, who may find reading more difficult, receive the targeted help that they need. Pupils secure the basics of reading in their memory quickly and securely. This enables them to read fluently and to access the richness of other parts of the school’s curriculum.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

“The school has a determination that all pupils will learn to read with precision and fluency. Children are expertly taught phonics from the very start of Reception. By the end of Year 2, almost all pupils are reading accurately and confidently. As pupils move through the primary phase, they read a range of interesting books. The focus on reading continues in the secondary phase.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

“Reading is a top priority for the school. In the early years, children revel in the stories, rhymes, and songs that they learn in the Nursery classes. They are well prepared to begin to use phonics to read words by the time that they reach the
Reception Year. […] Skilled staff support pupils to practise and refine their reading knowledge.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

“Reading is a strength of the school. […] Pupils take home reading books which are well matched to the sounds they know. This helps them to become fluent and confident readers. The school fosters a love a reading and pupils read daily.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good