Reading

At St Nicholas, we believe that reading is about much more than simply working out what the words say. We want every child to take pleasure in reading, to explore stories, build understanding and grow into confident, enthusiastic readers. Reading is a journey and families play a vital role in supporting it. A short daily reading session at home can make a real difference to a child’s progress, helping them develop fluency, deepen comprehension and nurture a lifelong love of books.

In school, phonics forms the foundation of our reading curriculum. Children learn to decode new words by linking letters to sounds, supported by Rhino Readers which is a carefully structured reading scheme matched to each child’s phonics level. These books are available to families via the Rhino Readers app, making home practice simple and effective. Alongside this, children take home an additional reading book and a library book to broaden their reading experience. As children move beyond phonics, we introduce ‘free reader’ texts to support growing independence and enjoyment.

Reading is woven into daily life at St Nicholas. Each year group has a set of core texts which are books chosen with care to ensure every child experiences the joy they offer. Every half term also features an ‘Author of the Term’, giving children the chance to explore a range of books by a single author and deepen their love of reading. We use shared reading to model fluency, expression and comprehension and guided reading to support children’s next steps in small groups. We also listen to children read individually, helping them build confidence and celebrate progress. Storytime is a treasured part of our day, where children encounter a wide range of texts, develop language and discover the joy of reading for pleasure.

Above all, we want children to see themselves readers who love books, are curious, capable and connected to the world through words.

Core Texts

Core texts play an important role in enriching our curriculum at St Nicholas. Each half term, every year group spends dedicated time with a carefully chosen book that is meant to be read aloud, lingered over and enjoyed together. These stories are selected for their richness, their language, their illustrations and their ability to spark curiosity. Core texts are shared with close attention to detail, drawing children into the illustrations and inviting their questions, predictions and reactions. By returning to the same story over time, pupils build familiarity, confidence and deeper understanding, while enjoying the rhythm, repetition and surprises that make these books so memorable.