Intent

At St Joseph’s Infant School, reading is central to children’s early education and helps open horizons for every learner. From Nursery to Year 2, we nurture curiosity, imagination and a lifelong love of books through a rich, inclusive and engaging reading curriculum.

We build strong early reading foundations through Little Wandle, ensuring every child develops secure phonics knowledge and increasing fluency. Carefully matched decodable books and regular practice enable all pupils to become confident, successful readers.

High-quality, diverse texts are used daily to inspire enjoyment, expand vocabulary and promote deep understanding. Story time, discussion and drama help children connect with characters, explore emotions and develop empathy.

Our local context of Chichester enriches children’s reading experiences. We use local stories, authors and settings to build a sense of identity, belonging and relevance in the texts they encounter.

Reading also supports children’s well-being and character development. Through shared reading experiences, children learn to communicate clearly, collaborate with others and develop independence and resilience.

We provide a safe, nurturing environment where all children feel valued, supported and encouraged to explore books confidently and develop a strong foundation for lifelong reading.

Implementation

We deliver our reading curriculum through a consistent, well-sequenced approach that prioritises early reading success for every child. Phonics is taught daily through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, following a clear progression that builds decoding skills securely. Ongoing assessment ensures children receive timely keep-up support when needed.

Children read fully decodable books matched to their phonics knowledge three times each week, focusing on decoding, fluency and comprehension. As they become more confident, they access a wider range of texts to broaden vocabulary and deepen understanding.

High-quality, diverse texts are embedded throughout the curriculum and shared daily during story time. Teachers model expressive reading, introduce new vocabulary and use discussion to strengthen comprehension and empathy.

In the Early Years, reading is woven through play, with rich opportunities for storytelling, rhyme and talk. Adults model language and nurture early comprehension skills through interactive reading experiences.

Our reading environment promotes enjoyment and independence. Classrooms include inviting reading areas, accessible high-quality books and opportunities for children to browse, choose and recommend stories. Reading is celebrated through book talk, author and library visits and family engagement.

Regular monitoring, pupil voice and staff collaboration ensure teaching remains consistent, responsive and ambitious for all learners. Through this approach, every child develops strong early reading foundations and a growing love of books.

Impact

Our approach to reading ensures that children develop strong early literacy foundations and grow into confident, fluent readers. Regular assessment shows that pupils make secure progress in phonics, with timely support enabling all children to keep up and not catch up. Children develop increasing accuracy, fluency and comprehension, and they talk confidently about the books they enjoy.

Pupil voice shows that children value reading and see themselves as readers. They demonstrate curiosity, imagination and a growing vocabulary through discussion and written work. By the end of Year 2, most children read with fluency, understanding and enthusiasm, preparing them well for the next stage of learning.

Our inclusive, nurturing reading culture ensures that all children—regardless of background or need—leave Key Stage 1 with a love of books and the essential skills needed for lifelong reading.