Reading

‘To read is to learn’

The Cornerstone Academy reading curriculum is broken down into 3 strands:

Students are regularly exposed to high-quality texts in lessons across school. To give a few examples: Historians read chronologies, Scientists read scientific methods and Artists read biographies. Every subject dedicates the time required to allow students to develop the subject-specific reading skills required and every subject has embedded these opportunities into their schemes of work. All teachers are trained to follow the school reading policy.

To further develop reading we have DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) lessons. DEAR is delivered by literacy specialists and allows teachers to model how to read, support students to read aloud and promote independent reading. During DEAR lessons teachers check and challenge students' comprehension, as well as guiding students on pronunciation, vocabulary and decoding.

In addition, we utilise two homework platforms at KS3: Sparxreader.com and Bedrocklearning.org which also develop reading and vocabulary skills. Each week tutor groups compete to be the most successful in the homework league.

Reading has many benefits beyond the classroom. Reading is proven to relieve stress and improve wellbeing, broadens your experience of people’s opinions and improves your ability to empathise with others. This is before we even consider the benefits to the other areas of literacy, such as increasing vocabulary, improving spelling and communication skills to name just a few.

The school library is open every day to give every student access to a range of books that they can borrow to take home, as well as giving students a space to read during social times and after school. The library operates a loyalty scheme and for every 5 books read students can earn a free book from the school vending machine as a reward. Mrs Bartlett our librarian also hosts book swaps several times a year where students and staff can donate books to be given to others in the school.

Further to the whole-school approaches listed above, some students require targeted support in certain areas of their reading. These students are identified by a series of assessments that can diagnose which intervention is most likely to improve the student’s reading ability. We have a wide range of evidence-based interventions in place, delivered by specialist staff, to support every student to become proficient readers:

• Lexonik Leap
• Lexonik Advance
• Dyslexia Gold
• Paired Reading Programme

If you feel that your child may benefit from further reading support, please contact: strayk@cornerstoneacademy.org.uk

If you know of an adult in the local community who may benefit from reading support or would like to learn to read, please contact: susanridd@readeasy.org.uk