Reading Programme

At Bexhill Academy, we are passionate about developing a lifelong love of reading in every child. Reading is central to our curriculum and is celebrated across the school, from our very youngest learners in our Two-year-old provision right through to Year 6. We offer a rich and structured reading programme that supports early decoding, builds fluency and comprehension, and most importantly, fosters a love of stories, language and learning.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Two-Year-Old Provision

Reading in our Two-year-old provision acts as a vital engine for early literacy and language growth, offering a safe, structured space where children can transform passive listening into active, exploratory learning. By embedding interactive story sessions into daily routines, we invite our youngsters to build vocabulary as they point out and name familiar illustrations like dogs or cups, a process heavily reinforced when adults pose simple, conversational questions about what is happening on the page. As our children mirror the reading behaviours of the adults around them, they actively practice crucial fine motor skills and print awareness by turning pages themselves - independent exploration that naturally fosters their imagination as they begin to "pretend read" and confidently invent their own wonderful stories.

Nursery

In Nursery, we begin nurturing our children’s love for reading through daily story time led by the teacher and a language-rich environment. We use ‘Talk Through Stories’ (RWI) in small groups to enhance oral language and story comprehension.
Children take home a reading for pleasure book and have a reading record, which is checked and stamped weekly.
Within the classroom, children enjoy a carefully curated reading corner with fiction, non-fiction, traditional tales, core books and familiar favourites.

Reception

Reception children experience daily story time, read aloud by the teacher. We group children for Read Write Inc. (RWI) phonics and children are heard reading weekly by an adult. We use ‘Talk Through Stories’ as a whole-class session in small groups.
Reading materials to take home include a reading for pleasure book, phonics-based materials (such as sound sheets, blending books, Ditty sheets or Book Bag Books depending on the group) and a reading record.
In school, Teaching Assistants deliver tiered reading and phonics interventions and children have daily access to a well-resourced reading area. RWI groups are streamed daily to ensure all children access phonics at the right level.

Key Stage 1 (KS1)

Year 1

Reading for pleasure is prioritised every day in Year 1 with daily story time. Our class stories are often used as our stimulus for writing. Each child is heard reading by their teacher weekly and takes home a phonics book matched to their current group, along with a reading for pleasure book and reading record.
TAs support learning through same-day phonics interventions, tiered reading programmes and targeted 1:1 tutoring (including use of RWI videos).
Daily streamed RWI sessions, phonics videos in the afternoon and a welcoming book corner support reading development throughout the day.

Year 2

Year 2 builds on phonics and begins to transition to Accelerated Reader (AR) for those children who have completed RWI. Children take home either a phonics book or an AR book within their ZPD, a reading for pleasure book and a reading record.
All children are heard reading weekly by their teacher and a TA. Reading for pleasure remains a key part of the day with dedicated story sessions.
In-school support includes same-day phonics keep-up, tiered readers and a rich book area. Daily reading lessons are provided for children who are no longer accessing phonics building up children’s fluency and comprehension skills.

Lower Key Stage 2 (LKS2)

Year 3 and 4

In Year 3, children continue to access AR and are encouraged to read regularly at school and home. They take home a ZPD-levelled AR book, a reading for pleasure book and a reading record.
Teachers hear every child read weekly, using diagnostic reports to tailor support. Reading for pleasure happens daily with daily class novel time.
TAs deliver tiered reading interventions and phonics catch-up for identified SEND children. Daily AR reading takes place allowing children to read to an adult and independently.
Children enjoy daily reading lessons and a library visit weekly.

Upper Key Stage 2 (UKS2)

Year 5

Reading in Year 5 is a key driver for developing vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. Children take home an AR book (ZPD-matched), a reading for pleasure book, and a reading record.
They are heard reading weekly and enjoy daily reading for pleasure sessions.
TAs continue to support with phonics catch-ups and reading interventions.
Reading lessons take place daily and all classes have a carefully selected class novel, which is often explored further as a stimulus for our writing.

Year 6

By Year 6, our pupils are confident and independent readers. Reading continues to be prioritised through daily AR sessions, daily reading for pleasure, and structured reading lessons.
Children are heard reading weekly and take home an AR book, a reading for pleasure book, and a reading record.
Targeted support is provided through tiered interventions for identified children.
As well as reading lessons and regular AR sessions, children are encouraged to choose a reading for pleasure book and are given time to enjoy this in class.

Reading Culture at Bexhill Academy

Across all year groups, we are dedicated to nurturing fluent, confident, and enthusiastic readers. Our comprehensive approach seamlessly blends structured phonics and targeted interventions with deep reading comprehension, all while prioritising a genuine love for books.

Every classroom features a thoughtfully curated book corner filled with a diverse selection of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and traditional tales. From cozy story times in Nursery to analytical text discussions in Year 6, our ultimate mission is to inspire every pupil to become a lifelong reader.