Reading at Anthony Bek

'The more that you read, the more things you will know. the more that you learn, the more places you'll go' - Dr Seuss

Intent

The National Curriculum (2014) forms the basis for all subject teaching ensuring continuity and progression in an age-related curriculum. The Reading Curriculum at Anthony Bek Primary School has been developed to recognise the importance of English in every aspect of daily life and to develop children’s love of reading. As a school, we recognise the importance of nurturing a culture where children love to read. We want to inspire children to be confident in the art of speaking and listening and to be able to use discussion to communicate and further their learning.

 Our intent is to enable children to:

• Read easily, fluently and with good understanding throughout their time at school
• Develop and maintain the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
• Acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading and spoken language
• Use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and clearly explain their understanding and ideas within a group setting

Implementation

We ensure that our Reading teaching and learning provides many purposeful opportunities for reading and discussion. We use a wide variety of, age-appropriate, inclusive, quality texts and resources to motivate and inspire our readers at Anthony Bek. All pupils in Year 2-6 receive a daily Guided Reading lesson. Teachers also ensure that cross curricular links with our Wider Curriculum subjects are interwoven where appropriate.

Our implementation: 

• Teachers create a positive reading culture in school through a variety of ways: daily guided reading lessons which focus on building confidence and fluency when reading; whole school events such as World Book Day; KS1 ‘Stay and Read’ sessions, which are hugely popular; Partner reads between older and younger classes; weekly reading prize pots where children who have read at home 5 times per week are put into a prize draw to potentially win a new book of their choice.
• Children being exposed to a range of reading genres and inclusive texts.
• Promotion of reading through teachers reading out loud regularly to their class
• All children matched to an accessible, but challenging, reading book to support home reading

• Pupils in EYFS and KS1 to have daily phonics sessions, following RWI Phonics

• Daily spelling lessons for KS2 pupils to support decoding and develop vocabulary.  
• Working Walls which support our school’s oracy focus by displaying vocabulary which is regularly reviewed during lessons to support long term memory.

Support for all learners

In order to support all learners, pupils who may be struggling with their reading are quickly identified and offered additional support. Where appropriate, phonics teaching continues during KS2 until children are confident and accurate decoders who are able to read with good pace and fluency. Other interventions and strategies are also used to support our learners who may be struggling. From Year 2, all classes complete termly reading assessment which allow staff to make adaptations to Guided Reading sessions and put interventions in place where appropriate.

Impact

The impact and measure of this is to ensure children not only acquire the appropriate age-related knowledge linked to the National Curriculum, but also skills which equip them to progress from their starting points, and within their everyday lives. At Anthony Bek, this is our key for success. 

 Long term, the impact will allow pupils to:

• Be confident in the art of speaking and listening and to be able to use discussion to communicate and further their learning

• Be able to read fluently both for pleasure and to further their learning

• Pupils success in reading will support them to access the wider curriculum

• Have a wide vocabulary and be adventurous with vocabulary choices within their written and spoken work

• Leave primary school being able to read fluently and confidently

• Make positive progress from their starting points to achieve their unique, full potential

Guided Reading Example Texts

Shared Reading - EYFS

We are excited to announce our EYFS 'Stay and Read' Events. 
 

A range of books will be provided for you to enjoy with your child during the session. They will include picture books, stories, information books, magazines etc. During the session you and your child can choose from the books provided and share some quality time together in the cosy environment, as we want children to think of reading as pleasure not a chore.
 

Sharing stories from an early age supports your child’s development - research shows that there is “significant evidence that reading is linked to important developmental factors in children, improving their cognition, mental health, and brain structure, which are cornerstones for future learning and well-being”. This time will be used as quality one to one time for you and your child to spend together!

WORLD BOOK DAY

World Book day is an annual celebration at Anthony Bek. It is a fantastic opportunity for the children to come off timetable and get involved in activities which support a love of reading! For pictures and updates regarding WBD, please go to our 'Latest News' page. 

Reading Crusader Newsletter

Summer Term 2026 Reading Recommendation

She’s a tween vampire with detective skills. But she’s terrified of everything. Can she persevere, or is everything about to change?

Ellie "Scaredy Bat" Spark’s purple dragon necklace has been stolen! For real this time. And if the powerful necklace falls into the wrong hands, it could lead to catastrophic consequences for all of vampire-kind. Ellie and her friends race to track down all possible suspects, revisiting familiar haunts including the Brookside Vampire Artifact Museum, Mega Adventureland, and Jellyfish Lake. Facing betrayal and ties to a secret society, Ellie doubts whether she actually wants to crack this case.

Join the team as they face their fear and investigate this slippery mystery!

Scaredy Bat and the Dragon Necklace is the seventh book in the spooky fun middle grade series. If your family likes adorable heroines, stories of overcoming fear, and supernatural mystery solving, you’ll love Marina J. Bowman’s enchanting tale.

'You've never heard of The Tales of Beedle the Bard?' said Ron incredulously. 'You're kidding, right?' (From Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)

Published by the charity Lumos in association with Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, The Tales of Beedle the Bard is the first new book from J. K. Rowling since the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Tales of Beedle the Bard played a crucial role in assisting Harry, with his friends Ron and Hermione, to finally defeat Lord Voldemort. Fans will be thrilled to have this opportunity to read the tales in full. An exciting addition to the canon of Harry Potter, the tales reveal the wonderful versatility of the author, as she tackles with relish the structure and varying tones of a classic fairy tale. There are five tales: 'The Tale of the Three Brothers', recounted in Deathly Hallows, plus 'The Fountain of Fair Fortune', 'The Warlock's Hairy Heart', 'The Wizard and the Hopping Pot', and 'Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump'. Each has its own magical character and will bring delight, laughter and the thrill of mortal peril. Translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger, the tales are introduced and illustrated by J. K. Rowling. Also included are notes by Professor Albus Dumbledore, which appear by kind permission of the Hogwarts Headmasters' Archive.

This gripping tale of twin twelve-year-olds, Verity and Ethan, who travel to Guatemala with their father, is packed full of archaeological intrigue. Whilst excavating a newly found Maya city, an ancient mask is discovered. Is the mask the cause of the end of the Maya civilisation, or is something more underhand going on? Will these children find out the answer as they deal with danger, kidnap, excitement and mystery? After the earlier death of their mother, the children have to deal with problem-solving as independent young minds in the confusing world of a foreign country. What will it take to succeed?

This book melds great writing with fast-paced action and adventure, whilst also asking questions of the reader. With more than a hint of philosophy for young people, this book offers much for its readers.

“Both entertaining and thought-provoking, an exciting journey through danger, and philosophy, bugs, betrayal, sibling rivalry, and an awesome archaeological puzzle.”

The laughter never ends with Oi Frog and Friends!
Jam-packed with the silliest of animals, this bestselling rhyming story will have the youngest of readers in fits of laughter. Over 1 million copies sold! Cats sit on mats, hares sit on chairs, mules sit on stools and gophers sit on sofas. But Frog does not want to sit on a log. Jam-packed with animals and silliness, this original rhyming story is guaranteed to get children giggling!
'An absolute treat.' Daily Mail
'Hilarious.' Guardian
'The most outstanding children's book.' Jo Wiley, BBC Radio 2
Can't get enough? Look out for: Oi Dog, Oi Cat, Oi Duck-billed Platypus, Oi Puppies
Oi Frog and Friends is a top ten bestselling series. Loved by children and parents, the books have won numerous awards, including the Laugh Out Loud Picture Book Award, and been shortlisted for many more!