Aims
- To develop and improve students’ ability and confidence in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
- To ensure that all students have the literacy skills necessary to be successful in life and in public examinations.
- To embed the teaching of literacy across the whole school.
- To support teachers in other subject areas in the delivery of key literacy skills.
The school’s Literacy Policy is based on the principle that it is the responsibility of every member of staff, teaching and non-teaching, to develop and maintain high standards of literacy across the school. All members of staff are expected to reinforce the importance of literacy by modelling good practice and ensuring that the development of literacy is built into the Programmes of Study.
Shared Vision – Using Reading to Promote Literacy
The school’s shared vision is that every pupil learns to read quickly and continues to read – widely and often. Reading is celebrated at Sydney Russell to underpin high standards of literacy.
Primary Phase
At the primary phase, the Head Teacher will work with all Primary staff to ensure that this happens. In particular, s/he is expected to work closely with the Reading Leader/ Literacy and Language Leader to monitor the quality of teaching and to provide coaching for staff (teachers and teaching assistants). The role of the Reading Leader is also critical. Alongside the Head Teacher, they should drive the teaching of Read Write Inc. Phonics, and ensure that all pupils follow the Literacy and Language programme by the end of Year 2.
The Reading Leader’s role comprises:
- Ensuring that our teaching of reading is of the highest quality and that all our pupils make progress.
- Ensuring pupils in the ‘lower progress’ group are making good progress and organising one-to-one tutoring for the pupils who need extra support.
- Keeping the groups homogeneous, i.e. at the same reading level
- Providing further training (through master classes, coaching/ observation and face-to-face feedback).
Teachers re expected to alert the Reading Leader to any pupil whose progress is faster or slower than the rest of their group. The reading team will be made up of a team of teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) who each teach a group of pupils at the same reading level.
Read the full policy here
