Contact Details
- 01367 240232
- office@tep.faringdonlearningtrust.org
The Elms, Gloucester Street, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7HZ
The Elms
Primary School
At The Elms Primary School, we believe that reading offers children the opportunity to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually, and therefore, is an integral part of children's learning and our curriculum. As children read, they have the opportunity to enter new worlds, experience new cultures, acquire knowledge, build empathy, engage in their community and much more! In our reading curriculum, we understand the importance of reading fluency and instruction but balance this with an developing an intrinsic pleasure for reading that will develop readers for life.
Each year group follows a progression of knowledge and skills built upon the national curriculum to build reading fluency and language comprehension skills. Texts are mapped across the school to ensure that children have access to a wide range of styles, authors, worlds and challenges.
Reading Fluency at The Elms
Before being able to comprehend and apply more complex skills, it is imperative that children are able to read fluently. Reading fluency is the ability to read words, phrases, sentences and stories accurately, with enough speed, and expression.
Accuracy: reading accuracy is the ability to read with few errors. Whole words and word endings are read accurately and the reader does not skip over words.
Reading speed: reading speed is the rate at which the reader reads. They will be taking into account the punctuation to read smoothly at an appropriate pace.
Expression (Prosody): As reading fluency develops, a reader will use their voice and pace according to the atmosphere created by the author. For example, a reader may use a quiet low voice spoken softly and slowly to build tension when there is danger looming.
A fluent reading style is important because it supports a readers understanding of a text. When a reader is struggling to read fluently, their focus is on reading the words rather than understanding the text. Fluency needs continuous development so it can be the bridge from reading the words to understanding the text and is a focus as children transition from Read Write Inc phonics to become independent readers.
Here are a few helpful reminders we use to help us develop fluency as we read.
The Elms, Gloucester Street, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7HZ